OU History Department

For more on the Wallace Johnson program: aslh.net/award/wallace-…

Great work, Dr. Fei!
4/4

Dr. Fei will be working on his book manuscript, “Local Women, Global Histories? Gendering Economic Life, Law, and Islam in Early Modern Transregional India.” 3/4

This selective program accepts a small number of program fellows every two years to participate in a year and a half of workshops led by senior scholars and editorial professionals designed to guide and support them towards publication of their first book. 2/4

Congratulations to Dr. Du Fei for having been selected as one of five participants for the biennial Wallace Johnson First Book Program offered through the American Society for Legal History. 1/4

The grant will support his dissertation, “The Rise and Fall of Liquid Sunshine: Environmental Change and the Florida Citrus Industry since 1950.” He is advised by Dr. Kathleen Brosnan. Fantastic work, Justin! 2/2

Congratulations to PhD candidate Justin Stuart, who has received the American Historical Association’s Albert J. Beveridge Grant, which supports research in the Western hemisphere! 1/2

DISTRIBUTE SYLLABI LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY

David Levy Obituary August 9, 2025 - Tribute Memorial Care View David Levy's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

An obituary for Dr. Levy can be found here: www.tribute.care/obituaries/d...

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Levy’s family has asked that donations be made to the David and Lynne Levy Fund for History: securelb.imodules.com/s/1720/21/page…

The Department of History is sad to share that Professor Emeritus David Levy passed away last week surrounded by his family.

If you have questions about these classes or any others, contact our academic advisor, June Blackwell (june@ou.edu) today! 3/3

HIST 3783 Slavery and the Atlantic World (Terrien), HIST 3903 Global Islam (Fei), and HIST 3913 Jews and Hollywood (Grinberg) could be great free electives or meet History major or minor requirements! 2/3

Hey OU students! Looking for another class for fall? We have some great ones with seats remaining. HIST 3993 Evolution of Martyrdom with Dr. Shepkaru and HIST 4003 with Dr. Schapkow are both Western Culture GenEds! 1/3

This will examine the intersection of feminism and Jewishness among five Jewish feminist writers who were active in early radical feminist groups in New York City. Great work, Dr. Grinberg! 2/2

Congratulations to Dr. Ronnie Grinberg, who has been selected for the Faculty Investment Program by OU’s Research Council! This will aid her next project, “No More Nice Girls: Women’s Liberation, Cosmopolitan Jews, and the Remaking of American Intellectual Life.” 1/2

Congratulations to history major Mikayla Taylor, whose paper, “Maria Izquierdo and the Woman’s Role in Mexico,” won first prize in the 2025 Latin America and the Caribbean Paper Award from the Center for the Americas in the Boren College of International Studies. Great work!

In addition, Alejandra Herrera and Tom Kahle advanced to PhD candidacy. Wonderful work every one of you; we are extremely proud of all of our graduate students! 10/10

Tanya Szafranski successfully defended her dissertation, “Athletics and Hellēnikon: Signifying Greek Identity in the Literature of the Roman Empire.” 9/10

James Gregory successfully defended his dissertation, “The Performance of Self: The Story of Cora Youngblood Corson.” 8/10

On the doctoral front: James Bland successfully defended his dissertation, “Enlightenment in the Shadows: Californios on the Borderlands of Experience, 1697-1821.” 7/10

And Elizabeth Thomas earned her MA by defending her thesis, “We Wants a Town: Community, Race, and Culture in the Founding of Two of Oklahoma’s All-Black Towns.” 6/10

Teresa Rodriguez earned her MA by defending her thesis, “All for Family and Catholicism: The Dela Torre Family during the Cristero Movement in Sonora, 1900-1980.” 5/10

Connor Neale earned his MA by defending his thesis, “Scan Lines: CNN, the Gulf War, and the 24-hour News Cycle.” 4/10

Samantha Byrd earned her MA by defending her thesis, “A Dangerous Element: Politics of White Citizenship and Land Use in the Chickasaw Nation, 1866-1890.” 3/10

Serra Bardin earned her MA by defending her thesis, “Yiddishist in the Mayrev: Yiddish Poetry and Jewish Women in Los Angeles, 1920s-1950s. 2/10

Congratulations to all of our graduate students who completed their degrees this semester! First up: our five newly minted Masters of Arts: 1/10

In addition, Dr. Browning will be assuming the role of Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History starting this summer, taking over for Dr. Jennifer Davis. 4/4

The project includes collaboration with the Oklahoma Historical Society on a digital exhibition. Great work, Lizzie! 3/4

Dr. Browning’s project, Cultivating Carceral Grounds: Agricultural Labor in the Federal Prison System, examines how the carceral state used agriculture as both punishment and “rehabilitation,” connecting to the Forum theme of “Dirt.” 2/4

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Grennan Browning, who has been awarded the OU Arts and Humanities Forum Public Fellowship for 2025-2026! 1/4