Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Transatlantic History at the University of Texas at Arlington.
2003 - M.A. in History, University of Central Florida, Department of History
Master's Thesis: Nineteenth Century American Racial Attitudes and Their Effects Upon Territorial Expansion: Case Studies of Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
2000 - B.A. in History, University of Central Florida, Department of History
Minors: Political Science, Latin American and Iberian Area Studies
Post Graduate Education:
2007 - Research Seminar: Contemporary Caribbean & Puerto Rican History / Historia de Puerto Rico y el Caribe Contemporáneo - Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe.
2007 - Research Seminar: Indigenous Cultural & Ethnic Survival in Puerto Rico / Sobrevivencia Indígena de Puerto Rico - Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe.
Professional Teaching Experience:
2004-2011, Adjunct Instructor - Department of History, University of Central Florida
2010-2011, Adjunct Instructor - Valencia College East - Orlando, FL
2004-2007, Adjunct Instructor - Valencia College West - Orlando, FL
2002-2004, Part-Time Instructor - Seminole State College - Lake Mary, FL
Courses Taught:
Upper Division Courses
LAH 4480 - History of Cuba
LAH 3470 - History of the Caribbean
Lower Division Courses
AMH 2010 - U.S. History I: 1492 to 1877
AMH 2020 - U.S. History II: 1877 to the present
EUH 2000 - Western Civilization I: Ancient to 1648
EUH 2001 - Western Civilization II: 1648 to the present
WOH 2012 - World Civilization I: Ancient to 1500
WOH 2022 - World Civilization II: 1500 to the present
Research Areas:
Caribbean History - 19th Century Popular Movements - Post-Colonial Development -
Latin American History - Relations with United States - Atlantic History - Immigration and Cultural Exchanges - Revolutionary Theory.
Local Publications:
2001, "The Fifty-first State: Problems in the Path to Political Self-Determination in Guam and Puerto Rico," Epochs Historical Magazine 2, #1 (University of Central Florida).
2001, "Haiti's Influence Upon the Economic Development of Cuba," Fellowship Seminar, UCF Graduate Studies. Orlando, Florida.
Presentations:
“Nuyorican, Islandricans, and the Creation of ‘Otherness’ Through American Film and Media,” 10th Biennial Conference of the Puerto Rican Studies Association, SUNY- Albany. Albany, NY. October 26, 2012.
“A Useful Account: Deconstructing Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra's Historia and its Enduring Relevance to Puerto Rican Historiography,” 2012 Midwest Association for Latin American Studies (MALAS) Conference. Louisville, KY. October 19, 2012.
“Networking a Transatlantic Revolution: The Efforts to Organize and Radicalize the Spanish Caribbean Diaspora, 1860 – 1898,” Harvard University Graduate History Conference, Harvard University. Cambridge, MA. September 29, 2012.
“Taino Indigenous Survival in Puerto Rico in the works of Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra and José Julián de Acosta y Calvo,” Northeast Texas Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference, Texas A&M University at Commerce. Commerce, TX. April 14, 2012.
“The Caribbean Pivot: The Enlightened Rebellions of the 1860s and the Centering of the Caribbean’s own Long Nineteenth Century,” 12th Annual Graduate History Conference at Louisiana State Univesity. Baton Rouge, LA. March 24, 2012.
“The Cold War and the Failure of Caribbean Decolonization,” Third Annual Texas A&M History Conference. College Station, TX. February 25, 2012.
“Nuyorican Otherness: American Film & Media Depictions of Puerto Ricans and their
Recursive Effects upon Puerto Rican Identity,” 12th Annual Graduate Student
Symposium on Transatlantic History. Arlington, Texas. 2011.
“UNASUR and CARICOM: The Status and Prospects for Regional Integration in South America and the Caribbean,” Midwest Association for Latin American Studies, 59th Annual Conference. Dallas, TX. 2009.
“Caribbean Regional Integration, its Prospects and the Role of Higher Education within the Caribbean Diaspora,” 27th Annual Gulf South History & Humanities Conference. Pensacola, FL. 2009.
“The Emergence of Salsa Music and the Geopolitics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and New York City,” Hispanic Heritage Month Symposium. Orlando, FL. 2009
“The Wiz: The Urbanization and Racialization of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of OZ,” UCF History Department Film Series. Orlando, FL. 2009.
“Latin American Immigration in American Politics,” May Day 2007 Seminar. Winter Park, Florida. 2007.
“Enter the Bohío: Taino Ancestry in Puerto Rican Identity,” Batey Urbano, University Lecture Series, Spring 2007, Winter Park, FL. 2007.
“Denying the Empire: The American Global Perspective,” Community Teaching Conference, Orlando, Florida. 2006.
“Imperialism in the Spanish Caribbean 1890 – 1989,” Batey Urbano, University Lecture Series, Fall 2006, Winter Park, FL. 2006.
"Alternative Teaching Strategies: Teachers as the Untapped Resource," Mother Earth Collective Conference. Lawrence, Kansas. 2002.
"Collegiate Diversity Issues," 2002 Florida Hispanic-Latino Collegiate Forum. Orlando, Florida. 2002.
Public History Works:
2009, “Baseball, Béisbol, and Yakyū: The Diversification and Internationalization of the American Past-time,” Spring 2010 UCF Colburn Hall Semester Exhibit. Orlando, Florida.
2009, “World War II Allied Propaganda Poster Art Exhibit,” Fall 2009 UCF Colburn Hall Semester Exhibit. Orlando, Florida.
Academic Conference Coordination:
2009 - 2010, Chairman - “World War 2.0: Modern Visions of the Second World War”, Interdisciplinary Conference. Orlando, FL
2001-2002 - Conference Director - Florida Hispanic Latino Collegiate Forum 2002 - University of Florida, Institute of Hispanic Latino Cultures.
University Service:
2009 - Pres., Organizer - UCF History Department Film Series Presentations - UCF
2005 - 2007, Faculty Advisor - Hispanic American Student Association - UCF
2005 - 2007, Faculty Advisor - Lambda Theta Phi, Fraternity - UCF
2006 - 2007, Faculty Advisor - Puerto Rican Student Union - VCC West
2000 - 2002, Graduate Advisor - Hispanic American Student Association - UCF
1998 - 2000, Commissioner - UCF President’s Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
Other Professional Experience & Community Involvement:
2010 - 2010, Research Associate - The Nexxt Group, L.L.C. , Winter Park, FL
2008 - 2008, Senior Researcher - Digital Media Alliance of Florida (non-profit)
2007 - 2008, Fundraiser / Grant Writer - Latino Leadership, Inc. (non-profit)
2005 - 2008, Program Director - OLAFEST, Film Festival (non-profit)
2005 - 2007, Radio Producer - African Space Program - WPRK 91.5 FM
2004 - 2005, President - Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Orange County, FL
2004 - 2004, Candidate for State Representative, FL State House District 35
2003 - 2004, Regional Coordinator – Center for Immigrant Democracy (non-profit)
Fellowships, Internships and Assistantships:
2011 - 2013, Graduate Tuition Fellowship, University of Texas at Arlington.
2011 - 2013, Texas Public Education Doctoral Grant.
2012, Travel Grant - College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Arlington.
2002, Graduate Assistantship, Office of Student Activities. University of Central Florida.
2001, Researcher, Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration, Orlando Office.
2001, Summer Research Fellowship, Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida.
2000, Political Science Internship, Belinda Ortiz Campaign for Orlando City Council.
1999, Assistantship Grant, Spanish Across the Curriculum Program, University of Central Florida.
1998, Internship, Museum Artist's Studio/Gallery of Altamonte Springs, Florida.
1998, Internship, Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida.
Past and Present Associations:
Midwest Association of Latin American Studies
Transatlantic History Student Organization
Gulf South Historical Association
Digital Media Alliance of Florida
National Association for Latino Independent Producers
Lambda Theta Phi, Fraternity
