University of Miami History Department

UM HIS is proud to feature Leonard Reina in our on-going series of alumni profiles. He was recently accepted to Harvard Divinity School and writes of the following of his time studying with us in History.

"My experience as a history major within the Department of History at the University of Miami remains nothing short of transformative. Although I pursued a triple major in History, Classics, and Economics and ultimately wrote my senior thesis in Classics, I credit the department’s rich selection of 500-level graduate seminars—seven of which I was fortunate enough to take to hone my aptitudes—with paving the way to my graduating summa cm laude and earning election to Phi Beta Kappa. One seminar that stands out most vividly is Prof. Michael T. Bernath’s “American Intellectual & Cultural History,” in which I deepened my appreciation for Transcendentalist thought and first developed an interest in Emerson’s complex relationship with his alma mater, Harvard University, and its Divinity School.
My

I cannot overstate the level of preparation afforded by the History Department. Through its abundant opportunities to grapple critically with nuanced issues, engage in stimulating discussions with both professors and peers, and, above all, cultivate research expertise, the department fostered a most invigorating and rewarding environment for me to grow and contribute. In retrospect, those were profoundly formative years that instilled in me an enduring intellectual zeal—one that I will carry with me as I begin graduate studies this fall at Harvard Divinity School."

Congratulations Leonard!

Congratulations to HIS PhD student Bright Petiafo for winning the Doctoral Archival and Specialized Research Award from UM's College of Arts and Sciences in support of his dissertation research on west African history!

Learn more about recent Cuba news with UM HIS Prof. Mike Bustamante on the PBS Newshour: https://ow.ly/wiyU50Z4yv1

Or read his op-ed piece in the NY Times: https://ow.ly/yUc750Z4yv2

Congratulations to Prof. Mike Bernath, who was recently elected president of The Society of Civil War Historians!

Another congratulations to Prof. Martin Nesvig, whose latest book, The Women Who Threw Corn, won the Bandelier-Lavrin Prize for best book on colonial history from the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies. It was also awarded honorable mention for the Alfred B. Thomas Book Award from the Southeast Council for Latin American Studies.

Congratulations to UM History PhD student Caleb Hernandez on passing his comprehensive exams!👏🎊

One major milestone down- we are proud of you, Caleb!

Congratulations to Prof. Martin Nesvig for receiving a prestigious Cooper Fellowship from UM's College of Arts and Sciences!

This semester has been a marathon 🥵

To close it out on a good note, UM History faculty, staff, grad students, and friends of the department came together for a meal and some well-earned downtime.

Here’s to good food and good company as we wrap things up!

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently joined Prof. Phil Harling's course on "The British Empire: Rise, Fall, and Afterlife" for an in-depth historical discussion with UM students. They enjoyed a broad-ranging conversation, and Mr. Johnson shared his perspective as former PM, Foreign Secretary, and Mayor of London on the ways that Britain's imperial past continues to resonate in contemporary British politics, society, and diplomacy.

The Bluebook - the Professor and TA's "best friend".
Happy grading week to everyone out there surving the pile this bluebook season! You've got this. ✍️💪