History – Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

In Mexico, there’s no place like home: Most don’t want to head north for work anymore

Dallas Morning News Originally Posted: March 13, 2019 For generations dating back to the 1930s, throughout Mexico, including in this region in the central state of Guanajuato known as El Bajio, the towns have emptied themselves out of their youths during what's called the 'winter blues.' The young would head north to seek out their own version of the American Dream: Jobs. In North Texas and other places they worked in everything from gardening, to restaurant service, to roofing and to constructing some of the area's most iconic buildings. They helped build D/FW International Airport, Texas Stadium and just about every high-rise in Dallas. No more. "Dallas was the dream of my father - it's not my dream," said Jairo Villalon, 21. With his friends, [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-03-15T06:37:52+00:00 March 15th, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Listen: Clearing up your questions on Michael Cohen

MPR Originally Posted: February 28, 2019 Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, called his old boss a 'racist', 'conman' and 'a cheat' while testifying before the House Oversight Committee yesterday. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to several federal criminal charges last year — including lying to Congress — leveled several accusations against the president throughout the hearing. How much weight do those claims carry? Will they be investigated? Is there any overlap between Cohen's testimony and the ongoing Russia investigation? Guest host Euan Kerr was joined by two experts to clear up any questions you had about the Cohen hearings and how much weight they really carry. LISTEN Guests: Jeffrey Engel— Director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-03-12T08:02:02+00:00 March 12th, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Today, March 5: SMU Giving Day

One day. For 24 hours on March 5, the entire SMU community will come together to give back and celebrate the causes we care about – supporting students, improving cities, educating teachers, fighting for justice, fueling champions – together, the possibilities are endless. Please consider supporting a Dedman College cause: Dedman College Scholars Dean’s Research Council SMU Human Rights SMU Fund for Dedman College Data Hackathon Challenges: Dean’s Research Council Match Gifts made to the Dedman College Dean’s Research Council will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. Thank you to generous donors, Dr. Anthony Aramoonie ‘94 and Nicole Aramoonie for making this possible! Dedman College Scholars Challenge Support scholarships and help us meet the challenge from longtime SMU supporters Carl Sewell ’66 and Peggy Higgins [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-03-04T10:11:09+00:00 March 5th, 2019|Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, DCII, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Earth Sciences, Economics, English, Events, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, World Languages and Literatures|Comments Off

Listen: The Past, Present & Future Of Impeachment

KERA Originally Posted: Feb. 22, 2019 Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton each served as President of the United States. And each faced impeachment while in office. Host Krys Boyd hosts a panel discussion about the use of impeachment with the authors of “Impeachment: An American History” (Modern Library). Joining us are Jeffrey Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University; Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times; Timothy J. Naftali, former director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum; and historian Jon Meacham. LISTEN

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-02-28T11:02:21+00:00 March 1st, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

What Can the Humanities Teach Big Data?

History News Network Originally Posted: Feb. 24, 2019 by Jo Guldi Jo Guldi, formerly Hans Rothfels Professor of History at Brown University and a Member of the Harvard Society of Fellows, is currently Associate Professor of History at SMU Dallas, where she directs “Think-Play-Hack,” SMU’s interdisciplinary hackathon series for big ideas. She is author of “Roads to Power: Britain Invents the Infrastructure State” (Harvard 2012), and co-author, with David Armitage, of ”The History Manifesto” (Cambridge 2014), which was recently named by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the most influential 20 books of the past 20 years in any field. Like many Americans, I have a love-hate relationship with technology: I inwardly cringe when my preschooler clamors for screen-time with our iPad instead of storytime with a [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-02-25T08:25:27+00:00 February 25th, 2019|DCII, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Teaching innovation

SMU News Originally Posted: February 4, 2019 Tracking history through algorithms – using an iconic childhood toy to demonstrate physics – trading traditional diversity training for real communication skills – storytelling. SMU professors bring innovative tools and techniques to wherever the students are. And it only starts in the classroom. READ MORE

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-02-05T11:13:49+00:00 February 6th, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History, Physics|Comments Off

Trump’s State of the Union Address: Touchy Topics and Words to Own

SMU News Originally Posted: February 5, 2019 This is an excerpt from an SMU news release. To read the full article click here. SMU experts are available to analyze political landmines and presidential goals in the runup to the Feb. 5 State of the Union address. Ignore the Talk of Impeachment? Jeffrey Engel, director, SMU Center for Presidential History 979-450-9437, jaengel@smu.edu “Our last two presidents to face such open talk of impeachment chose different tacks in addressing the issue during their State of the Union,” Engel said. “Richard Nixon mentioned it, seven months before he was forced from office one step ahead of the impeachment posse: It was time to bring the Watergate investigations to an end, he said. Bill Clinton addressed the nation during his [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-02-05T11:09:44+00:00 February 5th, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History, Political Science|Comments Off

The Big Screen: ‘The Favorite’ Vs. History

NPR Originally Posted: January 30, 2019 In "The Favourite," a pair of attendants in the Court of Queen Anne battle it out for the monarch's attention. The film is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and this week we continue our Oscars preview series by looking at how it depicts life in 18th Century England. Our guest is Kathleen Wellman, Dedman Family Distinguished Professor of History at SMU. LISTEN

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-02-01T07:34:22+00:00 February 1st, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Faculty News, History|Comments Off

Dallas’ lost neighborhood, “Little Egypt,” is focus of free presentation at African American Museum

SMU News Originally Posted: January 30, 2019 Clive Siegle, a professor at Richland College, received his PhD in history at SMU. (Dallas) – When Richland College faculty members Clive Siegle and Tim Sullivan started collaborating on the joint project “Finding Little Egypt,” little did they know how far they and their students would delve into the history and anthropology of a Dallas neighborhood which disappeared decades ago. The history of that missing community and where its residents went will be the subject of a free presentation by Siegle and Sullivan on Sat., Feb. 9, at the African American Museum of Dallas. “Lost and Found: Little Egypt, Fifty Years Later,” which starts at 1 p.m. in the museum’s AT&T auditorium, is free and open to the [...]

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-01-30T06:42:41+00:00 January 30th, 2019|Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Events, Graduate News, History|Comments Off

Event: Feb. 7, The Godbey Lecture Series: Catherine de Medici: The Contested Power and Controversial Reputation of a French Queen

Event Date: Feb. 7, 2019 Location: Meadows Museum Time: 5:15 PM Reception, 6:00 PM Lecture An in depth lecture on the life of Catherine de Medici, who died on January 5, 1589 after being integrally connected to the French monarchy for nearly sixty years. This lecture will discuss the powerful sixteenth-century woman, who was queen, regent, and queen-mother, and some reasons for her controversial reputation today. RSVP Required to Attend Link for more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dedman-college-interdisciplinary-institute-17804525320

By Katherine Nickles| 2019-01-28T11:31:09+00:00 January 28th, 2019|DCII, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman College Research, Events, Faculty News, History, Undergraduate News|Comments Off