Historian and Professor of the Middle East, US history, and Women's Studies.
With interests in Mexican American history, the Cold War in Central America,
Pop Culture, and the 1970s.
I am Dr. Jim Ross-Nazzal. I earned my doctorate in History from Washington State University where I examined gender in the Middle East, Latin America, and the US.
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I am a professor of History and Humanities in the Ethnic and Gender Studies Programs at Houston Community College, where I have picked up an interest in Military History and rekindled my passion for International Relations during the Cold War. I also teach Mexican American history, Texas history, Cold War pop culture, and my favorite decade: the 1970s.
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I am an Instructional Services Outstanding Faculty professor, a Webb-Smith award-winning author, and I am a West Houston Institute Innovation Fellow.
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My current research examines US intelligence and counterinsurgency operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 and the transformation of Central American insurgent groups to political parties in the post-Cold War era.
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I have been teaching in higher education since 1998 in both on-campus and e-learning environments. My experience includes Instructional Design as well as teaching/training new faculty.
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I am an author to include a history of a Mexican American community in Houston's Eastside, US women's travels to Palestine in the 19th century, and an Open Education Resource (OER) US History textbook, plus numerous articles and essays on US pop culture, foreign affairs, diplomacy, women's history, world history, and ethnic studies.
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I have spoken extensively on an array of US history and culture topics, such as Mexican American music in the 1950s, African Americans and World War I, women and Blacksploitation movies, Houston and the Great Depression, the 1970s, and pre-9/11 Hip Hop.
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I have extensive experience as an editor for popular and academic publications. For example, since 2005, I have been on the editorial board of the Journal of International Women's Studies. My editorial experience goes back to 1999 and has included such publications as the Journal of Intercultural Disciplines, the peer-reviewed organ of the National Association of African American Studies.
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Besides history and humanities, I teach research skills, and soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, data-driven decision-making, grit, determination and resiliency, and conflict resolution.
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Cross-culture expertise, intersectionality, collaboration, creativity, persuasion, adaptability, and analytic reasoning are some of my skills.
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My creative, innovative, and improv sides of me are nurtured by playing Dungeons and Dragons. A Role-Playing Game (RPG) I was introduced to back in high school and one I use in class to facilitate group-building and cohesion.
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And, I am a proud US Army veteran.
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Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any assistance.
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My Current Research
My current manuscript examines US intelligence and counterinsurgency operations in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 and the Communist insurgents' rise to legitimate political power in the post-Cold War era.
A Z-course (as in zero purchased textbooks and ancillary materials) is any class that uses 100% OER (Open Educational Resources). These classes are part of the institution's larger Z-Degree program.
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I am currently writing the 2nd edition of the OER textbook. My students are providing content.
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The link to the work in progress can be found here: Our Story: An Ancillary to US History.
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I am also working on updating a history of Magnolia Park, a historically Hispanic neighborhood that my college serves. The first edition was available through Amazon, but is currently out of stock.
A proud product of the Pac-10!
(Well, the Pac-12 now.)
