University of Houston Department of History

10/29/2026

Our University of Houston Alumni, David J. Vanegas (BA in History, 2021) has a simple piece of advice for incoming history majors: “Do not underestimate the value of your history degree or the opportunities it will create… It prepares you to become a researcher, writer, critical thinker, communicator, and leader. The skills you develop will remain relevant regardless of the professional path you ultimately choose for your life.”

For Vanegas, a BA in History inspired his passion for education: “I came to recognize that educators have the extraordinary responsibility of helping young people understand the world and discover their potential to influence.” He completed a MA in Teaching from Rice University in 2024 and currently serves as a secondary social studies teacher at Davis High School in Aldine Independent School District in Texas. Beyond classroom instruction, he is passionate about curriculum development, educational leadership, and expanding access to higher education.

In his practice, Vanegas works to help his students achieve the academic skills necessary for success beyond high school: “Studying history develops intellectual curiosity, analytical reasoning, effective communication, and the ability to evaluate evidence from multiple perspectives. These skills extend far beyond the classroom and are essential in education, law, public service, business, and leadership.”

Vanegas is quick to point out that studying history goes beyond career skills: “History also teaches humility. It reminds us that our present circumstances are the product of generations of human experiences, sacrifices, achievements, and failures.” He remembers taking World Revolutions with emeritus professor Dr. Thomas O’Brien. This course challenged Vanegas “to examine history beyond dates and events and instead consider the ideas, circumstances, and individuals responsible for transforming societies. [It] reinforced my understanding that history is not simply the study of the past; it is an examination of human decisions, struggles, and aspirations that continue to influence our present.” Vanegas carries this perspective into his classroom, encouraging students to ask difficult questions, listen to different points of view, and discover the connections between historical developments and the world they inhabit today.

Vanegas credits his undergraduate experience for his current success: “UH did more than award me a degree. It helped prepare me to become an educator, a lifelong learner, and someone committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through service.” To all incoming and current history majors, Vanegas shares one last piece of advice: “Be proud of your decision to study history, embrace the opportunities before you, and never forget that the next chapter of history is still being written by young men and women like yourselves.”

Way to go, David!

10/29/2026

Great event today!

Join us on Thursday, October 29 for a conversation between Dr. Elva Orozco Mendoza, Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of Connecticut, and Dr. Adela Cedillo, Assistant Professor of Modern Mexican History at the University of Houston, about Dr. Mendoza’s book The Maternal Contract: A Subaltern Response to Extreme Violence in the Americas.

Bates Law Building Room 209
4 to 5:30 pm

10/26/2026

Earth Science, Supercontinents, and Pre-Human History!

Congratulations to Dr. Pratik Chakrabarti (NEH Cullen Chair in History & Medicine) on publication of his new co-edited book, Gondwanaland Modern Histories of an Ancient Supercontinent (University of Pittsburgh Press).

"From South Africa to central India, from Argentinian Patagonia to the Australian Outback, Gondwanaland recreates an ancient supercontinent as a lived reality uniting past and present. This landmark volume provides a new vision of the history of the earth sciences and moves it to the center of global history." -Jim Secord, University of Cambridge

10/24/2026

UH Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson recalls that when he first arrived at UH, the main audience at games was the pep band, the Cougar Brass. To help build the cheering section, Coach Sampson would go around campus with band members asking people to come to the game. He credits the band with helping to create a fun atmosphere to keep people coming back while he was building a successful basketball program. Now, Coach Sampson thanks the Cougar Brass after every game for keeping the crowd and team fired up.

UH History major and band member Jorge Palomo captured that legacy through a recent oral history with Coach Sampson. Their conversation is part of Jorge's research for his senior Honors thesis exploring how the band contributes to student success, school spirit, and alumni support.

As UH approaches its centennial, one thing is clear: Cougar Brass is more than a soundtrack to game day—it’s part of the history. ❤️🤍

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

Alumnus alert! Congratulations, Dr. Derek Ide (PhD '23), on the publication of your new book!

10/21/2026

Come join the History Department for our Fall Faculty-Student Meet-and-Greet on Tuesday, October 27, at the UH CLASS Building, Room 302. Drop in anytime between 1:30-3pm to (re)connect with history students, faculty, and staff. Light refreshments provided!

10/19/2026

Transferable skills are the central feature of a history degree. So says Samuel DeLeon, who graduated from UH in 2021 with a dual BA in History and Political Science. DeLeon currently works as a project manager for Trio Electric, an electrical contracting company based in Houston. Much of the company’s work is on the construction of hospitals, biosciences buildings, and higher education buildings – including a current project at UH. As project manager, DeLeon ensures that all aspects of a large construction or renovation job work together smoothly.

This is where DeLeon’s history degree comes into play. While he had to learn some of the technical aspects of electrical projects on the job, he uses the fundamentals from his undergraduate degree all the time. Both written and verbal communication skills honed by history classes like Dr. Cathy Patterson’s Stuart Britain capstone are critical to his role, as he often dialogues with project personnel and has to explain protocols or regulatory codes to the workers actually doing the project. His historical training in asking good, pertinent questions also proved key. In fact, it was these skills which helped DeLeon secure his position; his company generally looks for applicants with some engineering background, but he was able to highlight his communication skills and show that he could develop the technical knowledge on the job.

De Leon also notes that a history degree taught him how to do research, which in his job translates to digging into documents to find answers, researching different manufacturing sources for purchasing, and assessing different information sources to support decision-making for the technical experts. As he spends much of his time reading a wide variety of documents closely, he appreciates how a history degree taught him to identify the best sources and to pay attention to “the fine print” to find information critical for a successful project.

The history major skills of adaptability, intellectual agility, and open-mindedness have also served DeLeon in a difficult job market. After finishing his undergraduate degrees in 2021, DeLeon completed an MBA/Master of Healthcare Administration double degree through Texas Women’s University in 2025. He hopes to eventually move into an industry more directly related to his interest in the healthcare field but appreciates how much he is learning in his current role and applying the skills he learned in his BA. Way to go, Samuel!

10/15/2026

What’s the value of a humanities degree in a tech-driven world?Let our alumnus George Hodgkins tell you. He graduated from UH in 2016 with a major in Electrical Engineering and a minor in History. Currently living in Colorado, where he develops compilers for quantum computers, here’s what he had to say about studying history in college:

What do you see as the value of your history degree?
“I want to understand the world I live in, and the past created the present and is key to understanding it. Also, it’s really cool to learn about the diversity of structures and experiences across the world - as well as the common elements.”

How has your history degree helped you in your career path?
“Big-brain answer: Studying history helps me to understand institutions (businesses, universities, the DMV, etc) and how their "behavior" emerges from the underlying group of people - and thus practically how to best interact with them.

Simple answer: Taking history classes gave me much more experience communicating effectively through writing than most engineers.”

Is there anything you would like incoming undergraduates to know about a degree in history?
“The ability to read and write a lot of long-form text effectively may be increasingly in-demand for AI-heavy workplaces.”

Studying history is more than a minor - it's a toolkit.

10/14/2026

Alumni alert! UH History major alumna, Karla Rodriguez, was recently featured in The Washington Post about her role with the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association.

“If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” said Karla Rodriguez, a digital director for Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Maryland), and a spokesperson for the CHSA, in a statement. “Latino voices must be present in the senior roles where Congress sets priorities, writes policies, and makes decisions.”

Check out the full article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/08/hispanic-staffers-make-up-only-9-percent-house-workforce-report-finds/

The U.S. population is about 20 percent Hispanic and Latino.