Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholars Program is designed to generate research about the Mexican and greater Latino community and attract scholars who may be interested in assuming a tenured or tenure track position at the University of Houston once their residency is completed. Research on Houston, the state of Texas and the southwest is given priority consideration.

George Díaz, Ph.D.

George T. Díaz is the CMAS Visiting Scholar for the 2011-12 academic year and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Houston.  He will be teaching a course entitled, “Smugglers, Saints, and 'Aliens' in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands” during the Spring 2012 semester.

Díaz earned his Ph.D. in History from Southern Methodist University in May 2010.  Most recently, he served as full-time faculty in the History and Mexican American Studies Department at South Texas College.  In 2009-10 he was awarded the Dissertation Fellowship at the Clements Center for Southwest Studies.  His publications include “Smugglers in Dangerous Times: Revolution and War in the Tejano Borderlands,” featured in War Along the Border: The Mexican Revolution and Tejano Communities, Arnoldo De León, ed. (Houston: Center for Mexican American Studies and Texas A&M University Press, forthcoming, 2011), and “Twilight of the Tequileros: Prohibition Era Smuggling in the South Texas Borderlands, 1919-1933,” forthcoming inSmugglers, Brothels, and Twine: Historical Perspectives on Contraband and Vice in North America’s Borderlands,Elaine Carey and Andrae Marak, co-editors (University of Arizona Press, 2011).  His book, Contrabandista Communities: A History of Smugglers and Smuggling along the Lower Rio Grande Border, 1848-1945, is under contract with University of Texas Press.

Díaz’s research interests include transnational border formation/border subversion, ethno history, ethnomusicology, violence, and identity in the U.S./Mexico Borderlands. 

Application Process

The University of Houston Center for Mexican American Studies is soliciting applications for its Visiting Scholars Program for the next academic year. All interested scholars from relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply. Visiting Scholars receive a salary appropriate to rank and are expected to be in residence during the academic year. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who have specializations in both Mexican and Mexican American Studies and who have an interest in remaining at the University of Houston in a tenured or tenure track position after their one year residency as the CMAS Visiting Scholar is completed.  Deadline for submission is April 15th of every year.*

*Additional information about the CMAS Visiting Scholar can be obtained by contacting the director at tmindiola@uh.edu

The University of Houston provides equal treatment and opportunity to all persons without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation except where such distinction is required by law.  This statement reflects compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and Title I of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and all other federal and state regulations.