I came to UMD in the fall of 1987, having completed my Ph.D at Yale and been Rhodes Visiting Fellow at St. Hilda's College, Oxford. I have taught all areas of Russian, Soviet, and post-Soviet history. My courses have included ones on Soviet cinema as well as Russian literature of the Soviet period. My interests also extend to 20th century Europe. I teach a course on that subject and am writing a novel about FDR on the eve of the Second World War. My areas of research include "Karelian fever" and the life of L.B. Kamenev, a significant rival to Stalin. I love history as well as the opportunity to share that fascination with my students.

Research/Teaching Interests

Research: Late medieval and early modern Iranian and Middle Eastern history, specialization Safavid Iran, Shi‘ite Political Culture, Sunnite/Shi‘ite polemic, literature and history

Teaching:  early to early modern Islamic history, religion and politics, religious thought

After completing my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1969, I began my academic career at UMD. I have enjoyed my 30+ years in the classroom and look forward to many more years teaching subjects that I love: American history and foreign relations. I also plan to continue my research on the history of UMD and the life and career of a fascinating Vatican II-style bishop, Paul F. Anderson.

 

The History Department hired me in 1975 to be the first to regularly teach a U.S. urban history course at UMD and also to develop a course in U.S. women's history. Previously, I had received my Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University and had taught for four years at Western Illinois University. At UMD, I've also taught other kinds of U.S. social history. My research initially focused on the settlement house movement with the publication of two books. Recently, I've been concentrating on discrimination issues. Among the things I especially enjoy about teaching are talking about some of the real characters we've had for president in the 20th century and hearing from my students about how the current generation is different and where it is headed.

A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), ex-Zaire (Africa), Nkasa joined the department as a part-time faculty in winter 1995 and was hired as an assistant professor in 1996. He received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Minnesota in 1996. His area of specialization is African social and cultural history and his second field in history is Modern Europe. He is currently working on two major projects: 1)"The Impact of the Construction and Operation of the Port Francqui-Bukama Railroad on the Population of Rural Katanga, Belgian Congo" and 2)"A Social History of the Mulelist Peasant Rebellion in the DRCongo in the 1960's." Dr. Yelengi teaches three African history courses: Pre-Colonial Africa to 1800, Modern Africa, and Society and Culture in 20th Century Africa, and two courses on Europe: Europe in the Modern Age and Modern France.

Dr. Yelengi's web page