As a student in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), Connor McPherson understands the implications of relationships—both friendly and hostile—between the United States and other countries. As a history major, he brings a historical perspective to how those complex relationships evolved. Continue Reading NROTC grad brings passion for history to new role as Naval officer
“My new book explores the lives of the performers, theater owners, producers, managers, and audiences that were part of Black Vaudeville and the Theater Owners Booking Association (T.O.B.A.),” says Michelle Scott, associate professor of history. “It’s a story about how these Black- and white-owned theaters fostered Black artistic exploration and development and the growth of Black-owned businesses.” Continue Reading Michelle R. Scott illuminates the lives of Black Vaudeville performers and their broader social impact in Jazz Age America
in recent years, Muslim communities around the world have used the period to rally around themes of social awareness. And this includes understanding the perils of wastefulness and embracing the link between Ramadan and environmental consciousness. As a historian of Islam, Noor Zaidi, assistant professor of history, sees the “greening” of Ramadan as entirely in keeping with the traditions of the faith, and in particular the observance of Ramadan. Continue Reading Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet
“The humanities, the cultural studies, provide important insights that we all need to influence the nation that we live in. It makes you think creatively about how you want to live your life,” says Danielle Giese’99. “Combining Africana studies with political science has given me incredible insights into how our government systems affect people of color. ” Continue Reading Rooted in Advocacy—Giese ’99 ensures federal programs meet community needs
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced that George Derek Musgrove ‘97, associate professor of history, and Elizabeth Patton, associate professor of media and communication studies, have received the highly competitive 2023 NEH fellowship for research on Black political and cultural mobilizations and Black leisure and tourism, respectivel. Continue Reading UMBC humanities faculty receive NEH fellowships for research into “the why and how of our past”
In modern capitalism, it seems as if stories of companies and managers who engage in fraud occur like the changing of the seasons. In fact, these scandals can be traced back to the origins of publicly traded companies during the 1700s. As a historian of 18th century finance, I am struck by the similarities between what’s known as the Charitable Corporation Scandal and the recent collapse of FTX. Continue Reading FTX’s collapse mirrors an infamous 18th century British financial scandal
Elizabeth Patton, Mirjam Voerkelius, and Amy Froide have received prestigious research fellowships to explore archives and reveal new findings about unique historical events in the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom. Continue Reading UMBC humanities faculty pursue groundbreaking archival research through over $135,000 in prestigious fellowships
Meredith Oyen, associate professor of history and Asian studies, discusses President Biden’s remarks about U.S. military intervention should China attempt an invasion of Taiwan.y towards China. Continue Reading Biden again indicates that US will defend Taiwan ‘militarily’ – does this constitute a change in policy?
UMBC students are known for the strength of their diversity:… Continue Reading From the Soil to the Stars, Internships Take Students’ Futures to the Next Level
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasn’t confirmed when – or even if – she is to visit Taiwan. Yet such is the sensitivity over the island’s status that reports of her possible trip have resulted in a warning by China of “serious consequences” and a suggestion by President Joe Biden that the visit was “not a good idea,” writes Meredith Oyen. Continue Reading Why the big fuss over Nancy Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan?
This year, an estimated 1 million people will perform the hajj, which is considered one of the five pillars in Islam. Chaos ensued in early June 2022 when Saudi Arabia announced a hajj “lottery” for Western pilgrims that made it mandatory for people from Europe, the Americas and Australia to apply for visas through a random draw through the Saudi government-backed website. Under the lottery, only 50,000 permits were allowed from these 50 countries, compared with 25,000 for U.K. Muslims alone in previous years. Continue Reading From caravans to markets, the hajj pilgrimage has always included a commercial component
Nine recent UMBC graduates and alumni will soon travel to the UK, El Salvador, Kuwait, France, Colombia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany as 2022 Fulbright U.S. Student scholars. They include emerging leaders in education, astrophysics, cybersecurity, human rights, and more, and they are excited to explore difficult questions through fresh perspectives. Continue Reading UMBC’s 2022 Fulbright student scholars will travel the world to explore difficult questions
