Elena A. Schneider

Elena A. Schneider is an Associate Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, holding the Sonne Chair in Latin American History. Her research focuses on Cuba, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic World, emphasizing colonialism, slavery, and the experiences of marginalized communities. She specializes in histories 'from below,' particularly the roles of African-descended peoples in imperial conflicts and diasporic movements.

Education: PhD in History (Princeton University), MA in History (Princeton University), AB in History & Literature (Harvard University).

Her first major work, The Occupation of Havana (2018), examines the British siege of Havana (1762-1763) and its impact on colonial empires and enslaved populations. The book has received multiple prestigious awards, including the James A. Rawley Prize and the Bryce Wood Award. Current research includes maritime marronage in the Caribbean and Afro-Cuban returnees to West Africa in the 19th century.

Teaching interests span imperialism, slavery, race, and revolution in Latin America and the Atlantic World, integrating art, film, and music into pedagogy. She advises graduate students on diverse topics in Latin American, Caribbean, Indigenous, and Atlantic histories.

Recent publications explore themes like enslaved agency, transatlantic migration, and colonial military dynamics. Awards include the Hellman Fellowship (2017) and the Naomi Wulf Prize (2013). Research fellowships include the NEH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2011-2013) and the Huntington Library's Kemble Fellowship (2022-2023).