History Department News and Research

Jackie Orr, associate professor of sociology, was named Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence. The professorship was created to recognize and reward outstanding teaching at the University.

"In this timely study, Khalil...provides a thorough analysis of how U.S. foreign policy interests have driven the development of American specialist knowledge about the Middle East from WWI to today," reads a review of a book by Osama F. Khalil, associate professor of history.

According to Margaret S. Thompson, associate professor of history and political science, some religious congregations may leave their buildings, but other groups can replace them, often representing groups that are new or growing in the community.

"This is the work of a young but mature historian: thoroughly documented, carefully argued, and well crafted. In a detailed look at the nexus of American academic expertise on the Middle East and Washington’s diplomatic and intelligence power centers, from the Wilson era through the Obama presidency, Khalil keeps his prose crisp and his judgments sober," reads a review of "America's Dream Palace," a book by Osamah Khalil, assistant professor of history.

Regionally based strikes like the one in Oakland "are very, very uncommon in US history," said Andrew Wender Cohen, professor of history, adding that for some time now there have been only 20 to 30 larger strikes per year in the entire country. 

Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science, compares the volume of leaks coming out of the Trump administration to the Nixon administration and its handling of the Watergate scandal.

Michael Ebner, associate professor of history, describes how fascism emerged in Italy as a response to the growing power of socialists, and how fascist violence was used to break their hold on local administration and labor organizations.

Margaret S. Thompson, associate professor of history and political science, believes the nearly 3 million women and men who came out to Women's Marches nationwide will impact the future. “If even 10% of those actually become actively involved, in talking with their representative and lobbying for policies that they think are important, we’re going to see some remarkable change.”