Joshua Savala

Dr. Joshua Savala is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), part of the College of Liberal Arts. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (2019) and previously taught at Rollins College in Florida. His research focuses on Latin American social movements, transnational histories of the Pacific, and labor solidarity in the Andean and Southern Cone regions. Key areas of expertise include maritime workers, anarchism, public health epidemics, and border studies.

Education:

• PhD in History, Cornell University (2019)
• MA in History, Cornell University (2015)
• MA in History, Tufts University (2012)
• BA in History and Sociology, University of California, Davis (2007)

Research Interests: His groundbreaking work examines collaborative relationships between Peruvians and Chileans in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including studies on cholera epidemics, anarchist networks, and cross-border solidarity. Recent projects investigate cooperative urban planning on the U.S.-Mexico border and disaster responses in Valparaíso.

Publications: Includes the award-winning book Beyond Patriotic Phobias (2022) and articles in Hispanic American Historical Review and Journal of Social History. His Spanish translation Más allá de la guerra (2024) is a binational publication with universities in Peru and Chile.

Awards:

• Best Book (Social Sciences) on the Southern Cone (Honorable Mention), 2023
• Flora Tristán Book Prize (Honorable Mention), 2023
• José María Arguedas Prize, 2020

Teaching: Teaches courses on Modern Latin America, Pacific World histories, and borderland studies. Recent courses include Studies in Latin American History and South America Since 1810.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with UTEP's Borderlands Digital Humanities Center and the Institute of Oral History, emphasizing collaborative interdisciplinary projects.