Independent researcher and advisor
I study the behavior of large language models and the relationship between technology and the humanities. I also advise libraries, museums, and archives on strategy, long-term digital access and the use of their historic facilities. I have a PhD in Rhetoric from UC Berkeley and am former Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke
My prior research has focused on narrative, Shakespeare, and computation. I currently study the relationship between LLM prompts and their outputs, trying to understand how models respond to various forms of constraint.
A computational study of moral contrasts across thousands of seventeenth-century books, in Digital Scholarship in the Humanities (Oxford). A second article is underway. Read →
An empirical study of Cogcoin mining that explores what happens when large language models compete against a public scorer, and what it reveals about prompting and reliability. Read →
Books I have written, alone and with others.
Much of my work has been about bringing people together — scholars, artists, and technologists. A few projects I have commissioned or joined:
A project on keeping today's digital culture legible centuries from now. I contribute as a project member. Visit →
As director of the Folger, I commissioned new work from artists whose ideas could speak both to Shakespeare and to a wider public:
I served as Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library for thirteen years, during which time I led the organization through a four-year renovation of its landmark 1932 building, expanding public space while preserving the historic interiors, and raising more than $50 million through the largest capital campaign in the institution's history. The $81.5 million project appeared on the cover of Architectural Record, was reviewed in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and Washingtonian, and was commended by King Charles III at the reopening in June 2024.
A forthcoming volume on the renovation. Foreword by Michael Witmore, pp. 11–14. Learn more →
Michael Witmore brings a rare combination of cultural stewardship and technical vision. In our collaboration on Digital Vellum, I have seen firsthand how he bridges the humanities and computer science, ensuring that memory institutions not only adapt to AI but use it wisely.
Michael Witmore brought a visionary clarity to the Folger Shakespeare Library renovation. His leadership ensured that every design decision honored the building's historic integrity while embracing the needs of contemporary audiences.
Working with Michael was a true collaboration. He created space for difficult questions and stood behind the answers, even when they challenged the status quo.