08/07/2026
Please help us welcome Dr. Jessica Luepke to the Texas State History Department!
Dr. Luepke is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and a non-traditional college student. After serving in the U.S. Army, she attended Tarrant County College and earned her associate degree before pursuing both her bachelor's and master's degrees at The University of Texas at Arlington. She later earned her doctorate from the University of North Texas. Throughout 13 years of taking in-person, online, hybrid, and short-semester courses, her passion for history remained constant, particularly her interest in U.S. military history.
Her research focuses on how military occupations shape military culture. She examine how imperialism, race, and gender guide civil-military relationships. Her current work explores the occupations of the Philippines (1898-1902), Haiti (1915-1917), and Germany (1945-1946).
Students in Dr. Luepke's courses can expect to develop critical thinking skills while engaging with history through compelling storytelling. As she explains: "If you want to learn how to think critically while enjoying a good story, take my classes. I only teach online so there's flexibility during the week to watch my lectures. I approach every topic like a story I tell my own kids. I want students to enjoy what they're learning while also actually learning."
Dr. Luepke encourages students to take a moment to pause when they feel stressed, overwhelmed, or discouraged and identify what matters most in the moment. She also emphasizes the importance of asking for help, particularly from professors. As she explains, faculty are often able to help students work through difficult concepts, assignments, and study strategies, but they can only provide that support when students reach out.
Join us in welcoming Dr. Luepke to the department!
