Jennifer Brooks

Jennifer E. Brooks is a Professor of History at Auburn University's Department of History, part of the College of Liberal Arts. She specializes in 20th-century Southern history, labor studies, immigration dynamics, and the impact of World War II veterans on postwar politics. Brooks earned her PhD from the University of Tennessee in 1997 and joined Auburn in 2006 as an Associate Professor. Her research emphasizes the roles of immigrant laborers in Alabama's development and the intersections of race, labor, and politics in the South.

Education: PhD in History (University of Tennessee, 1997); BA in History (University of Massachusetts-Boston).

Research Interests: Brooks investigates the postwar political landscape shaped by veterans, labor movements in the Cold War era, and the experiences of immigrant workers in industries like railroads and mining. Her work critiques systemic inequalities and highlights marginalized voices in Southern history through publications like Defining the Peace (2004) and Resident Strangers (2022). Her current project, a graphic history of the 1950 American Enka strike, visualizes labor struggles in the postwar South.

Publications Trends: Her articles span medical research (e.g., sickle cell disease treatments) and historical analyses, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement. She critiques legislative barriers to labor rights and explores transnational migration's impact on Southern communities.

Awards: None explicitly listed, though her scholarly leadership includes past presidency of the Southern Labor Studies Association.

Advising & Grants: Brooks mentors graduate students in labor history, immigration studies, and WWII homefront history. Though specific grants are not detailed, her publications suggest active research funding.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with historians and interdisciplinary groups on graphic history projects, blending traditional scholarship with visual narratives.