USF Department of History

08/31/2026

Representing USF on the international stage!

We are pleased to share that our Adrian O’Connor will be participating in the 8th International Conference of the European Society for the History of Political Thought (ESHPT), held at the University of Napoli Federico II (Italy) this October 5–7, 2026.

Dr. O’Connor, who serves as Secretary General of the ESHPT and as part of the organizing committee, will join leading international scholars to explore this year’s theme, "Truth and Un-Truth in the History of Political Thought." Over three days, the conference will examine how truth claims, rhetoric, power, and misinformation have shaped political theory and governance across history.

More here:

University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples 5-7 October 2026 Truth and Un-Truth in the History of Political Thought Eighth Biennial Conference of the European Society for the History of Political Th…

08/31/2026

Excellent piece on Spectrum Bay News 9 about the accomplishments of our graduate students Madison Fidler and Lisa Shorts who joined, this summer, the archaeological excavation of the Roman Villa del Tellaro, in Sicily, directed by our Davide Tanasi. The piece covers the innovative use of AI to bridge the gap between the past and the future. USF College of Arts and Sciences

Students and staff from USF’s Institute of Digital Exploration (IDEx) worked at the Roman Villa del Tellaro, a historic location in Italy that the university has been studying since 2019.

08/29/2026

Huge congratulations to our Benedetta Carnaghi for successfully completing all workshops in USF’s Educator Development for Growth & Excellence (EDGE) program!

Organized by the Office of the Provost's Faculty Success initiative, the EDGE program focuses on advanced instructional practices, reflective teaching, student engagement, and learning assessment. Dr. Carnaghi’s dedication to pedagogical innovation and teaching excellence continues to enrich the learning experience for our students across the department.

08/27/2026

Huge congratulations to our Matt King on the publication of his new book, A History of Goblins (Palgrave Macmillan)!

In this fascinating study, he traces the millennium-long evolution of goblins—from medieval Christian demonology and Victorian folklore to modern fantasy literature, tabletop RPGs, and internet culture. The book explores how these elusive figures have reflected societal norms, fears, and cultural shifts through the centuries, right up to their 21st-century reimagining in popular media.

Explore the book here:
Read more here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-01063-6

08/26/2026

Highlighting our USF History students and alumni making an impact in the field!

The latest USF College of Arts and Sciences Chronicles features immersive global learning experiences across the college, including our archaeological fieldwork in Sicily at the Roman Villa del Tellaro.

We are especially proud of our Department of History graduate students Lisa Shorts and Madison Fidler, alongside history alumni Stephan Hassam and Sarah Hassam, whose dedication, leadership, and hands-on expertise were central to the excavation campaign's success. From stratigraphic excavation to digital field methods, their work exemplifies the standard of research and mentorship that defines our department. USF College of Arts and Sciences

University of South Florida

08/24/2026

This summer, five USF students spent eight weeks conducting original archival research at the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain.

The students successfully completed Dr. J. Michael Francis's two-semester Spanish Paleography program, and all five received funding from USF St. Petersburg's Hough Family Endowment to cover the cost of airfare and accommodations.

Anyone interested in the Spanish Paleography Program should contact Dr. Francis ([email protected])

Left to right: Jordan Saunders, Liana Howe, Kylie Culver, Nicole Lobato, and Dashiell Bailey.

08/23/2026

Congratulations to our Michael Decker, who's attending the prestigious International Congress of Byzantine Studies, in Vienna, representing USF with two contributions: "Crops, Cropping Systems, and Agricultural Continuity in the Byzantine Empire ca. 500–1453 CE" and "The Island in Between: Sicilian Connections and Trade from the Vandals to the Coming of Islam"!

08/20/2026

A few pics from today's Department Retreat luncheon! Now we are ready to start the new semester! Team work makes the dream work 🎉

08/19/2026

Congratulations to PhD candidate Sean Carlson, who won a Truman Library Institute Dissertation Fellowship, allowing him a full year of uninterrupted research and writing. He plans to complete his dissertation on "Managing Armageddon: American Control of Western Nuclear Policy and Capabilities, 1945 - 1972," working with professors Kees Boterbloem, David Johnson, and Golfo Alexopolous (SIGS).

08/16/2026

In the April 2026 issue of the 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑦, our Frances L. Ramos reviews Martin Austin Nesvig’s groundbreaking 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑛: 𝑊𝑖𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑖𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ-𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑦 𝑀𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑐𝑜, a pivotal exploration of creolization in sixteenth-century New Spain: https://vastearly.am/4wpfMql