Gregory Valdespino

Gregory Valdespino is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Iowa. He specializes in the history of modern Africa and Europe, with a focus on the Francophone world, urbanization, migration, and governance. His research explores how colonial and postcolonial societies have negotiated basic needs through political demands tied to domestic well-being. Valdespino earned his PhD in History from the University of Chicago and a BA from Stanford University.

Education:

• PhD in History, University of Chicago
• BA in History, Stanford University

Research Interests span colonial and postcolonial urbanism, the politics of dwelling, migration dynamics, food sovereignty, and the interplay between state governance and everyday life. His work bridges political, social, and cultural history to analyze how material conditions shape political identities.

Recent Publications examine topics such as Dakar’s urban development, migrant repatriation, and the persistence of colonial exploitation in post-independence France-Senegal relations. His scholarship appears in journals like Journal of Urban History, French Colonial History, and edited volumes, alongside public-facing work in Jacobin and the Throughline podcast.

Scientific Awards:

• University of Chicago Wayne C. Booth Graduate Student Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2021)
• Georges Lurcy Charitable and Education Trust Fellowship

Research Grants include support from the Mellon Foundation, Princeton Program in African Studies, and the University of Chicago Committee on African Studies. His teaching at Iowa includes courses on African urban history, migration, and the politics of domestic spaces.