I teach courses in Latin American history, World history, European history since 1713, two team-taught comparative courses with Dr. Eric Jackson on the history of race relations in the Americas (U.S. and Latin America), and a course in the environmental history of Latin America (see syllabi link below). My broad research interests include agricultural history, environmental history, and the history  of aboriginal peoples in Latin America, particularly Brazil. My specific focus is the role of ranching in Latin American economy and society, including the relationship between ranching and the local ecosystem, which is a two-way street, if inevitably dominated by the one-way actions of human beings. I have published several journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese on the history of Latin America, including in such scholarly journals as Agricultural History, Environmental History and The Americas. 

I am a member of several national and international organizations of Latin American history and studies, as well as in environmental history and studies. I also am active on various departmental and university committees. 

Since high school, I have travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and throughout Latin America. The countries where I have travelled most recently are Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, neighbors and very visible contrasts in culture, language and socio-political structure. I also have participated in the NKU Alternative Spring Break in Mexico (see below for informational links). To students I enthusiastically advise travel, not only as a tremendous cultural experience, but because it provides an incomparable combination of enjoyment and learning. Don't miss the opportunity! 

When at home, I enjoy outdoor sports like hiking and bike riding. I especially love the winter sports of nordic skiing (cross country) and ice-skating, which I have practiced since childhood. As might be expected, and contrary to the desires of most of my colleagues, I could use a bit more snow in this area. I also am an addicted ice hockey and futbol (soccer) fan. On another cultural level, recently I have reinitiated my adolescent flirtation with the trombone. Among many excellent musicians, my favorite trombonists are J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding (jazz), and Raul de Barros (Brazilian). My musical interests are several, including Brazilian choro, Paraguayan guarania, jazz, blues, international/world folk, and classical, and when in the dancing mood Brazilian forró, samba and Paraguayan polca. For more information, see Musiclinks below. 

History, Culture and Politics Weblinks

·    New Mexico State University Internet Resources for Latin America. The most extensive website on Latin America to date. Links in almost all directions imaginable. http://lib.nmsu.edu/subject/bord/laguia

·    LANIC (Latin American Studies at the University of Texas)
Another extensive site with all kinds of information, historical and present-day, including many newspapers from around Latin America. http://lanic.utexas.edu/

·    Dr. Richard Slatta's homepage (North Carolina State University) Many excellent links. http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/class/hi300001/bkmarks.htm

·    Weblinks from Steve Volk at Oberlin College
 http://www.oberlin.edu/~svolk/latinam.htm

·    The Handbook of Latin American Studies. Bibliographical sources galore. 
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/

·    Latin American Studies Association http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/

·    Tulane University homepage (many links) http://www.tulane.edu/%7Elatinlib/internet.html

·     Tulane University Latin America Resource Center lending library (includes videos)  http://stonecenter.tulane.edu/html/LARC_Lending_Library_index.htm

·    Paul Halsall's internet sourcebook for Colonial Latin America
 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook08.html#Colonial%20

·    Zapatista homepage (there are now several guerrilla and liberation group websites - try accessing them by their names) http://www.ezln.org/

·    Landless Workers' Movement of Brazil http://www.mstbrazil.org/

·    The South and Meso American Indian Rights Center  http://saiic.nativeweb.org/

·    Latin American Environmental History webpage http://www.stanford.edu/group/LAEH/index.htm
 

·    Alternative Spring Break in Mexico - one week of volunteering in Mexico City and environs every Spring Break        http://www.nku.edu/~kirby/temp/asb/

·    NKU Office of Latino Student Affairs - serving Latino students on and off campushttp://www.nku.edu/~latinoaffairs/
 

·    NKU Office of International Students - serving international students on and off campus           http://www.nku.edu/~isa

Some good music and culture websites, with Realaudio and MP3 streams. 

·    A great page of Brazilian culture, including historical origins. And with several examples of Brazilian music, including choro, samba, and others.
http://www.maria-brazil.org/page2.htm
 

·    Another that features all kinds of Brazilian music for purchase and samples in MP3. http://www.kuarup.com.br/english/primeira.html

·    For more on Brazilian music. http://www.allbrazilianmusic.com/en/Home/Home.asp
 

·    Comprehensive Paraguayan music page, with many music samples in Realaudio, including guaranias and polcas. Though in Spanish, there is link for Altavista translation to English. http://www.musicaparaguaya.org.py/