Department of History Faculty Welcomes New Assistant Professor

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Todd Cleveland

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Todd Cleveland will join the Department of History in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences this fall as an assistant professor. Cleveland comes to the University of Arkansas from Augustana College in Illinois.

"My initial interest in the European colonial experience in Africa began to shift to the African perspective on and experiences during the colonial encounters following an extended visit to Guinea-Bissau in the mid-1990s," Cleveland said. "That is, in many respects, the essence of Fulbright College's focus on Senator Fulbright's legacy of peace through education — shifting your point of view via personal experience. I'm excited to start working at the place he called home."

Cleveland's research and publications have analyzed diamond mining and the transnational sports history of soccer in Lusophone Africa and Portugal.  Some of his past research has also ingenerated publications that explore African National Congress activity in post-independence Angola, the archival research process in Portugal, the introduction of industrial education into colonial Angola, the role of soccer in engendering Angolan nationalism and the methodological implications of conducting research in contemporary Angola.

"Dr. Cleveland is already a widely published scholar of African history, working comfortably in Portuguese and English language sources in east Africa," said Kathryn Sloan, chair of the department. "We are happy to welcome him to Fulbright College."

Cleveland has a passionate interest in European and Portuguese soccer. He fell in love with the sport while living on the north side of London where he got caught up in the energy and spirit of the fans.

Cleveland holds a Bachelor of Arts (with honors) and a Master of Arts in history from the University of New Hampshire. He earned a doctorate in African history from the University of Minnesota.

About the Department: The Department of History advances public knowledge and understanding of past events through studying written, oral and visual sources and the teaching and research of political, social, diplomatic, cultural, intellectual and environmental history. Faculty expertise includes a variety of geographies and cultures, from the ancient to the post-modern world.