UCLA History Department Faculty Research: A Comprehensive Overview
The UCLA Department of History stands as one of the most distinguished in the United States, boasting a faculty recognized globally for their excellence in teaching and scholarship. With a substantial community of over 50 faculty members, more than 700 undergraduate majors, and over 100 graduate students, the department offers a vibrant and diverse academic environment. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research conducted by the UCLA History Department faculty, highlighting their recent publications, awards, and contributions to the field.
A Hub of Historical Scholarship
UCLA's History Department offers one of the country’s broadest, most diverse, and successful graduate programs in the subject. Faculty expertise ranges from the pre-colonial history of the Americas to the present. Resources for graduate study at UCLA are exceedingly rich. The Young Research Library is one of the five largest in the nation, and there are additional superb rare book collections in all periods of American history at the nearby Huntington and Clark libraries. Furthermore, UCLA is home to an array of interdisciplinary research centers and programs, many of which run lecture series, hold conferences, sponsor research programs, offer classes, and provide fellowships to graduate students in corresponding fields of study. US history graduate students have been especially active in the Center for the Study of Women, the Institute of Industrial Relations, and the four research centers for American ethnic studies (the Chicano Studies Research Center, Bunche Center for African American Studies, American Indian Studies Center, and Asian-American Studies Center). Students have also interacted with Area Studies research centers (Centers for African Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, etc), Environmental Studies, Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Studies, and more that could not be listed comprehensively.
Recent Publications and Research Highlights
The faculty's commitment to research is evident in their prolific publication record. Over the past five years, UCLA history professors have collectively published over 60 books, earning 29 prizes for their writing. Some notable recent publications and research activities include:
- Nile Green: Edited a History Lab titled “Big Asia: Rethinking a Region” in the American Historical Review (Volume 130, Issue 2, June 2025). Nile Green also won the Bentley Book Prize from the World History.
- Sebouh Aslanian and Sanjay Subrahmanyam: Published an article titled “Uneasy Partnership: A Note on Armenian-Danish Commercial Collaboration in the Indian Ocean, ca.
- Katherine M. Marino: Published an article titled “East-South Feminism in the Long Global Sixties: Felicia Santizo and the Women’s International Democratic Federation in Panama” in The Global Sixties: An Interdisciplinary Journal 18, no. Katherine Marino also received Honorable Mention for Article on Rosa Rayside and Domestic Workers. Marino’s book Feminism for the Americas: The Making was also Co-Winner of Ida Blom-Karen Offen Prize. Marino also Awarded 2020 International Studies Association’s Diplomatic Studies Section Bertha Lutz Prize and Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowship.
- Fernando Pérez Montesinos: Gave an interview to independent Mexican media discussing his new book Landscaping Indigenous Mexico.
- Amir Alexander: Alexander’s recent book, Liberty's Grid: A Founding was on Wall Street Journal’s Summer Reading List. Alexander’s book, Proof!: How the World Became Geometrical, was also recommended by Vox for the Holidays.
- Elizabeth O’Brien: O'Brien was awarded the American Association for The for Surgery and Salvation. O’Brien’s book, Surgery and Salvation: won Berkshire Conference of Women Historians Book Prize, American Academy of Religion’s Best First Book Award and won Several Awards.
- Sarah Stein: Stein Receives Senior Scholar Award for Research on the Jewish Experience. Stein and Aomar Boum, Wins Reference Award by AJL for Wartime North Africa: A Documentary History 1934-1950. Stein’s book "Family Papers: A Sephardic Journey Through was also Named Finalist for National Jewish Book Award and Chosen as Best of 2019 by The Economist, Mosaic Magazine.
- Kelly Lytle Hernandez: Hernandez’ Book Wins Bancroft Prize for Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire. Hernandez was also One of Six UCLA Professors to Receive UCLA Public Impact Research Award and Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Lytle Hernandez Receives Women of The Year Award and Named to the Pulitzer Prize Board. Hernandez’s Book Selected by the National Book Foundation for City of Inmates. Hernandez was also Awarded MacArthur Fellowship and Honored by Southern California Media.
- David Myers: Myers to Receive Honorary Doctorate and Deliver Graduation Address at Hebrew Union College and Book Awarded the National Jewish Book Award for American Shtetl: The Making of Kiryas.
- Stella Ghervas: Ghervas Named Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy and wins Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies.
- Kevin Terraciano: Terraciano Awarded J. and Jeanette Peterson Receive Latin American Studies Association Prize.
- Ted Porter: Porter Awarded History of Science Society Sarton Medal and Pfizer Prize by the History of Science Society.
- Robin Derby: Derby Awarded Inaugural Translation Prize for “Terreurs and Receives Research Excellence Award from the Center for the Study of Women and will Present Distinguished Professor Lecture at the Institute for the Study of the Americas.
- Sanjay Subrahmanyam: Subrahmanyam Awarded the CISH International Prize for History and the International Prize of History and Named one of the "35 Thinkers who Influence the World” and Awarded 2019 Dan David Prize in History.
- Geoffrey Robinson: Robinson Awarded the George McT. Kahin Prize and the 2019 Raphael Lemkin Book Award by the Institute for the Study of Genocide. Robinson’s “Killing Season” Selected as One of the Best Books of 2018 by Foreign Affairs and Receives Society for Military History 2020 Distinguished Book Award for The Killing Season: A History of the Indonesian.
- Brenda Stevenson: Stevenson Appointed Inaugural Hillary Rodham Clinton Chair in Women’s History at St John’s College, Oxford University and to Receive 2020 Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal and Named University’s 127th Faculty Research Lecturer Receives 2019 Germany Residency.
- Lynn Hunt: Hunt Delivers 2019 Charles Homer Haskins Prize Lecture and Named 2019 Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award.
- Andrea Goldman: Goldman Wins Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. Fellowship in Chinese History and Receives 2020 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award. Goldman’s and Richard von Glahn’s Books Among 10 Best 2018 Books Published by the Social Sciences Academic Press (China) for Andrea Goldman's Chinese translation of Opera and the City.
Awards and Recognition
The UCLA History Department faculty has consistently been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the field. Recent awards and honors include:
- Robin Kelley: Receives 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award. Robin D.G. Kelley is also a 2021 Freedom Scholar Award Recipient.
- Jared McBride: Receives 2025 Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award.
- Carla Pestana: Elected President of the Association of Caribbean Historians.
- Teofilo Ruiz: Honored with 2023-24 Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award at UCLA and Selected as Fellow.
- Brian Copenhaver: Receives Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award for 2023-24.
- Choon Hwee Koh: Receives Faculty Career Development Award.
- Toby Higbie: Awarded Chancellor’s Award for Community-Engaged Scholars.
- Kevin Kim: Selected as W. Glenn Campbell and Rita Ricardo Campbell National Fellow.
- Peter Loewenberg: Awarded JAPA Prize for Best Article.
- Giorgio Buccellati: Receives 2021 Balzan Prize.
- Teo Ruiz: Named A Winner of The American Historical Association’s Award for Scholarly Distinction.
- Saul Friedlander: Awarded Prestigious Balzan Prize.
- Soraya de Chadarevian: Receives Life Sciences Excellence in Research Award.
- James Gelvin: Elected to Pacific Council on International Policy and Inducted into Renaissance Weekend.
- Ben Madley: Awarded 2021-2022 Huntington Dana and David Dornsife Fellowship and Wins the Inaugural Robert W. Cherny AwardBen Madley’s article for the Pacific Historical Review, "California's.
- Stephen Aron: to Become President and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West.
- Hollian Wint: Awarded American Council of Learned Societies Faculty Fellowship.
- Muriel McClendon: to Receive the Distinguished Teaching Award for Senate Faculty.
- David Sabean: Receives Scholarly Distinction Award by the American Historical Association.
- Tawny Paul: Awarded the Ben Snow Prize and the Morris D. Forkosch Prize.
- Craig Yirush: Wins Choice Magazine Award for Outstanding Academic Title for A three volume set of colonial political writings.
- Margaret Jacob: Named 2019 Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Katsuya Hirano: Honored at Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching Award Ceremony and Receives Distinguished Teaching Award.
- M. Norton Wise: Receives Sarton Medal from History of Science Society.
- Ivan Berend: Receives 2018-2019 Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award.
Research Opportunities for Students
The Luskin Center for History and Policy at UCLA offers research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. These positions provide valuable experience in historical research and policy analysis. Current research projects include:
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- The Legacy of Race and Racism at UCLA: This project examines the experiences of African American students on campus from the university's early years, highlighting significant individuals, biases, structural barriers, and moments of protest.
- How Does UCLA Respond to Crisis?: This project aims to understand how UCLA and the broader UC system have responded to past crises, particularly the 2008-09 recession.
To be eligible for these positions, students must be enrolled full-time for the duration of the appointment.
Faculty Directory
The UCLA History Department boasts a diverse and accomplished faculty. Some of the distinguished faculty members include:
- Robin D.G. Kelley
- Benjamin L. Michael Meranze: Ph.D.
- Carla G. Robert Dallek: Ph.D.
- Ellen DuBois: Ph.D.
- Thomas Hines: Ph.D.
- Sanford M. Michael Salman: Ph.D.
- Richard Weiss: Ph.D.
- Mary Yeager: Ph.D.
- Mary Corey:Ph.D.
- David N.
Commitment to Undergraduate Education
Despite its emphasis on research, the department remains dedicated to providing high-quality education to its undergraduate students. Senior faculty members teach introductory survey courses, and all history majors have the opportunity to participate in small seminars. In recent years, UCLA has awarded degrees to an average of 335 undergraduate history majors annually.
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tags: #ucla #history #department #faculty #research
