Monica Rankin

Monica Rankin is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Texas at Dallas, affiliated with the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. Her expertise spans Mexican history, Latin American diplomatic relations, and WWII-era propaganda studies, with a focus on U.S.-Latin American interactions and gender dynamics during wartime.

Dr. Rankin's academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in History from the University of Arizona (2004)
• M.A. in Latin American History from Washington University (1999)
• M.A. in International Affairs from Washington University (1998)
• B.A. in International Studies/Spanish from Missouri State University (1994)

Her research explores Mexican diplomatic strategies during World War II, U.S. propaganda operations through the OCIAA, and the construction of female identity in wartime Mexico. She examines how propaganda shaped inter-American relations while analyzing Mexico's delicate balancing act between neutrality and Allied cooperation. Her work uniquely bridges diplomatic history, gender studies, and propaganda analysis, revealing how wartime narratives influenced national identity formation across Latin America.

Analysis of her publications shows consistent focus on Mexican diplomatic history (100% of works), with strong emphasis on WWII-era propaganda (87.5%) and gender studies (37.5%). Her research demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication, evolving from traditional diplomatic history to incorporate gender analysis and computational approaches for propaganda text analysis.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• UT Dallas Education Abroad Mentor Award (2019)
• UT System Regents Outstanding Teaching Award (2015)
• UT Dallas Distinguished Teacher in Diversity & Multicultural Education Award (2012)
• Arts & Humanities Victor Worsfold Teaching Award (2008)

Dr. Rankin has secured significant external funding for original research, including Fulbright grants for fieldwork in Chile, Ecuador, and Mexico, plus presidential library research awards. She directs the Center for U.S.-Latin America Initiatives, fostering cross-border academic collaboration. Her teaching spans undergraduate surveys to graduate seminars on Latin American history, propaganda studies, and Mexican cinema.

She maintains active leadership in professional organizations including the Latin American Studies Association, Scholars of the History of American Foreign Relations, and the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies (serving on its Executive Committee since 2008).