James R. Brennan

Dr. James R. Brennan is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Illinois, serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies. He holds additional appointments as Associate Professor in the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for African Studies. His research focuses on African colonial and post-colonial history, with specializations in imperialism, race, and transnational networks. Brennan has received prestigious awards including the Conrad Humanities Scholar (2019–2024) and the Bethwell A. Ogot Book Award (2013).

His work examines topics such as Islamic politics in Tanzania, Cold War intelligence networks, and cultural histories of print media in East Africa. Brennan co-edited Dar es Salaam: Histories from an Emerging African Metropolis (2007) and authored (2012). He currently serves as Co-Editor of the .

• Research Affiliations: Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Center for African Studies
• Key Honors: ACLS Ryskamp Fellowship (2012–2015), LBJ Library Moody Grant (2013)

Brennan’s recent scholarship explores intersections between religion, governance, and decolonization processes in Eastern Africa, with a focus on understudied actors like political intelligence figures and print culture entrepreneurs.