Thomas F. O'Brien

Thomas F. O’Brien is a Moores Professor of History at the University of Houston’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Specializing in Latin American history, culture, politics, and labor, his research focuses on U.S.-Latin America relations across historical epochs. He has chaired the History Department for nine years and served as Graduate/Undergraduate Director, contributing extensively to academic administration.

Dr. O’Brien holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. His teaching spans undergraduate courses like World Civilizations and The U.S. and Latin America, alongside graduate seminars on historiography and history-theory. His scholarly works include four books and numerous articles, with a focus on transnational economic and political dynamics from the Age of Revolutions to globalization.

Recipient of prestigious awards including the Robertson Prize (2004) for best article in Hispanic American Historical Review, his research explores themes like U.S. corporate influence, resource extraction, and diplomatic strategies. His recent work examines Latin America’s evolution through lenses of capitalism, labor movements, and transnational networks.