Felipe Fernandes Cruz

Felipe Fernandes Cruz is an Assistant Professor of History at Tulane University's School of Liberal Arts. His research focuses on technology's role in shaping modern Brazil, particularly aviation's influence on frontier colonization and 'guerrilla technologies' developed by marginalized communities. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (2016), with earlier degrees from Florida State University and UT Austin. Cruz co-founded The Appendix, a journal bridging academic and popular history, reaching millions of readers. His current projects include digital humanities tools like CuratAR (augmented reality app) and the 'Pocket Archivist' digitization device.

Research interests span Brazil's technological history, digital preservation, and public scholarship. His book manuscript Flight of the Toucans examines aviation's symbolic and practical role in Brazilian territorial integration. Recent work explores baloeiros (illegal hot air balloonists) and their cultural significance. Cruz has held grants from the Carlos E. Castañeda Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, and the Lozano Long Institute.

Teaching includes courses on modern Brazil, frontiers, and rebellion in Latin America. His interdisciplinary approach combines archival research with ethnographic and oral history methods. Cruz advocates for accessible digital tools to democratize historical preservation and education.