Jaden Janek

Jaden Janak (they/he) is an Assistant Professor of History and Race, Ethnic Studies, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at St. Olaf College. Their research focuses on U.S. prison abolition organizing, LGBTQ+ radical politics, and popular culture. His current book project, Experiments in Freedom: Present Histories of an Abolitionist Future, explores U.S. prison abolitionist organizing from the 1990s to the present. Their scholarship can be found in journals such as Liminalities, GLQ, Behemoth, Social Education, and Communication/Critical Cultural Studies. Outside of their research, Jaden organizes with various abolitionist collectives. More at jadenjanak.com. (updated 1/2026)