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Theda Skocpol is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, where she has taught since 1986 following earlier positions at the University of Chicago. Her career spans groundbreaking work in comparative historical sociology and American political development, with affiliations including leadership roles in the American Political Science Association and directorship of Harvard's Center for American Political Studies. Her research investigates structural foundations of political change, with signature contributions in three areas: Revolutions and State Formation : Analyzing how state crises and agrarian structures drive revolutionary outcomes Social Policy Origins : Tracing the development of U.S. welfare systems from Civil War pensions to Obamacare Civic Engagement : Documenting the transformation of American associational life and grassroots politics She pioneered the 'polity-centered approach' emphasizing state autonomy and institutional capacity. Skocpol's scholarship has earned major distinctions including the Johan Skytte Prize and Woodrow Wilson Award, recognizing her paradigm-shifting analyses of revolution trajectories and social policy development. Her mentorship emphasizes collaborative field research, notably co-authoring books with students studying regional political realignments. She leads research on contemporary movements like the Tea Party and anti-Trump resistance, examining how organizational networks and funding mechanisms shape political outcomes. Through the Scholars Strategy Network, she bridges academic research and policy discourse on inequality, health reform, and democratic revitalization.

• Comparative Historical Analysis
• Social Revolutions
• Political Reform
• +5 more

Jesús Edgar Mendoza García is a Researcher at the Center for Research and Higher Education in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), based at the CDMX Regional Unit. He holds a PhD in History from El Colegio de México (COLMEX) since 2005 and is recognized as a Level II member of Mexico's National System of Researchers (SNI). His academic credentials include: Bachelor's degree in Ethnohistory from the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH) Master's degree in Modern and Contemporary History from the José María Luis Mora Research Institute Master's degree in History from El Colegio de México PhD in History from El Colegio de México Dr. Mendoza García specializes in the social, political, and environmental history of Mexico with deep expertise in agrarian systems. His research examines land tenure and property structures from the 18th century through post-revolutionary agrarian reform, focusing on indigenous communities across southern and central Mexico. Current projects investigate disentailment processes in Cuicatlán, Oaxaca (1856-1960) and cultural practices like ranchero jaripeo in Chocholteco villages during the 20th century. His professional recognition includes: SNI Level II No information is available regarding graduate student supervision or research grants. The text does not specify any laboratory affiliations or research team memberships.

• History
• Indigenous Studies
• Social History
• +5 more

Connie L. Lester serves as Associate Professor in the Department of History within the University of Central Florida's College of Arts and Humanities. She directs RICHES (Resource for Integrated Cultural and Historical ExplorationS) and edits the Florida Historical Quarterly, demonstrating deep institutional commitment to preserving regional history. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in U.S. History specializing in the History of the U.S. South from the University of Tennessee (1998). Dr. Lester's research interrogates the Modern South through agricultural, environmental, and economic lenses, revealing how race, gender, and class shaped regional development. Her work consistently centers marginalized voices—particularly women and Black farmers—within narratives of Populism, Reconstruction, and agrarian reform. This approach transforms traditional understandings of Southern political economy by exposing grassroots resistance to industrialization and racial capitalism. Analysis of her 1995-2024 publications reveals sustained engagement with Reconstruction's legacy and the agrarian revolt's economic justice frameworks. Her scholarship bridges Civil War diaries with 20th-century civil rights struggles, highlighting continuity in Southern communities' fights for land sovereignty and fair credit systems. The recurrent focus on Mississippi and Tennessee underscores her regional expertise while connecting local movements to national political transformations. Her recognition includes: Leu Research Fellowship Award (Tennessee Historical Society, 2007) Research Recognition Award (UCF College of Arts and Humanities, 2006) Award of Merit (American Association of State and Local History, 1999) Distinguished Service Award (Florida Historical Society, 2015) As RICHES Director, she has secured $1,060,435 in competitive grants from NEH, IMLS, and Iron Mountain to digitize Central Florida's cultural heritage. Her editorial leadership of the Florida Historical Quarterly extends scholarly impact beyond traditional academic boundaries into public history initiatives. Current projects include editing the Oxford Handbook on Reconstruction chapter and completing manuscript contracts with University of Tennessee Press and University Press of Mississippi. RICHES operates as a digital living archive under her direction, partnering with community organizations to document oral histories and preserve endangered cultural materials across Central Florida, fundamentally reshaping how regional identity is constructed and accessed.

• U.S. South
• Agricultural History
• Economic History
• +3 more

Jay David Miller serves as Assistant Professor of English and Interim Director of the Honors Program at George Fox University, specializing in colonial and early American literary traditions within transatlantic contexts. Education: PhD, University of Notre Dame MA, The Pennsylvania State University BA, George Fox University His research centers on Early American literature through the lens of Quaker agrarian writing, Atlantic World theological discourse, and environmental literary history. Current work explores neglected jeremiad traditions from the English Civil Wars through the American Revolution, examining how Quaker writers framed ecological and societal critiques. Scientific Awards: 2021 ACLS Carl and Betty Pforzheimer Fellow in English and American Literature McNeil Center's 2021 Zuckerman Prize in American Studies Miller teaches literature and writing courses across the Honors Program and English department while serving as associate editor for Quaker Religious Thought . His scholarship receives support from the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture, reflecting significant peer recognition in early American studies.

• Early American literature
• The Atlantic World
• Theology and literature
• +4 more

Manoel Rendeiro Neto serves as Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer in Yale University's Department of History and Affiliate Fellow at the Program in Agrarian Studies, transitioning to Assistant Professor of Colonial Latin American History in fall 2026. His academic credentials include: B.A. and teaching degree in History from University of Brasília M.A. and Ph.D. in Latin American History from University of California, Davis (specialization: African Diaspora Studies) Rendeiro Neto's research investigates environmental knowledge in colonial empire-building, ethno-racial stratification, and autonomous territorialization within the Afro-Indigenous Amazon. His work bridges environmental history, Latin American studies, and diaspora scholarship through interdisciplinary analysis of colonial-era ecological and social systems. His scholarly contributions have earned support from premier academic institutions: Conference on Latin American History Dumbarton Oaks (Mellon Foundation) Huntington Library John Carter Brown Library Luso-American Development Foundation University of California Humanities Research Institute Born in the Brazilian Amazon, Rendeiro Neto actively promotes research on traditional Afro-Indigenous communities to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the rainforest from early modern history to contemporary ecological challenges.

• Colonial Latin American History
• Environmental History
• African Diaspora Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Nkululeko Nyangiwe is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Researcher at the Dohne Agricultural Development Institute in Stutterheim, South Africa, where he works within the Rural Development and Agrarian Reform division and the Animal Welfare and Meat Science Lab. With 64 publications and 865 citations, his research significantly contributes to understanding livestock parasites and diseases in South African farming systems, particularly in communal settings. Dr. Nyangiwe's expertise spans multiple critical areas: Animal Parasitology Veterinary Medicine Animal Welfare Animal Science Zoonotic Diseases Tick Ecology and Control His research primarily focuses on tick-borne diseases affecting livestock, with special emphasis on the invasive Rhipicephalus microplus species. He has conducted extensive field studies examining seasonal tick dynamics, species displacement, acaricide resistance, and the relationship between environmental factors and parasite distribution. His work uniquely bridges biological research with social science approaches, investigating both the scientific aspects of parasite control and farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Dr. Nyangiwe's publications demonstrate consistent research productivity across multiple provinces in South Africa, with recent work addressing climate change impacts on vector distribution, molecular characterization of pathogens, and practical control methods for resource-limited farming communities. His research has accumulated over 42,095 reads, indicating significant interest from the scientific and agricultural communities. Notable research contributions include: Documenting the range expansion of Rhipicephalus microplus across southern Africa Studying the displacement of native tick species by invasive counterparts Investigating acaricide resistance mechanisms in tick populations Assessing farmer knowledge regarding parasite control methods Analyzing climate and environmental influences on tick distribution Dr. Nyangiwe maintains an active collaborative network with researchers across South Africa and internationally, participating in FAO expert meetings and multi-country research initiatives. His work in the Animal Welfare and Meat Science Lab focuses on practical applications that directly benefit livestock producers while advancing scientific understanding of parasite ecology and control.

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Animal Welfare
• Tick Ecology
• +7 more

Dr. Annette LaRocco is the Dan ’63 and Betty Churchill Associate Professor of Climate Policy and International Affairs at the University of Maine and concurrently serves as Associate Professor and Senior Associate Director of the Leon Charney Diplomacy Program at Florida Atlantic University. Her work bridges political science, African studies, and environmental governance. Educational background includes: PhD from the University of Cambridge (2016) Master's degree from the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar Bachelor's degree, Summa cum Laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University (double major in Political Science and English) Her research explores: Postcolonial state-building and environmental governance in southern Africa Political economy of conservation and land politics Climate policy, biodiversity, and gender-environment intersections Qualitative methodologies in political science Publications appear in top journals including Politics and Gender and the Journal of Southern African Studies , alongside her 2024 book on Botswana. Awards and honors: U.S. Fulbright Scholar (2022-2023) Clarendon Scholar, University of Oxford Summa cum Laude, Columbia University Prior to academia, she contributed to foreign policy research in Washington, D.C.

• African politics
• Environmental politics
• Postcolonial statebuilding
• +7 more

Shawn Van Ausdal is an Assistant Professor in the History Department at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, with additional teaching responsibilities in the master's program in geography. He also holds a visiting fellowship at the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society in Munich, Germany. His academic background includes a PhD in geography from the University of California-Berkeley. Van Ausdal specializes in environmental history, agrarian studies, political ecology, and food studies, with a regional focus on Latin America, particularly Colombia. His research examines historical patterns of cattle ranching, landscape transformation, meat consumption, and the relationship between agricultural practices and social inequality. He challenges conventional narratives about Colombian ranching by demonstrating early productivity gains and emphasizing the economic logic behind cattle expansion. His publication record shows consistent scholarly output since the early 2000s, with particular productivity in the 2008-2015 period. His work appears in respected journals across history, geography, and environmental studies disciplines. Recent publications continue to explore themes of land inequality, agricultural productivity, and historical patterns of resource use in Colombia. Van Ausdal's research contributes to broader conversations about environmental history in Latin America, challenging simplistic narratives about ranching and providing nuanced historical analysis of agricultural development patterns. His interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with geographical and environmental perspectives.

• Environmental History
• Agrarian Studies
• Political Ecology
• +5 more