Dr. Brandon James Render
Assistant Professor of History
Dr. Brandon James Render's research and teaching focuses on the history of the United States in the twentieth century and African American studies. His current book project, Colorblind Universities: The Making and Unmaking of Race in Higher Education (under contract with UNC Press), positions the civil rights and Black Power era as an intellectual movement that fundamentally re-shaped the way Americans think about race—on campus and beyond the ivory tower. His research and scholarship has received support from the New York Public Library, the Gilder Lehrman Institute, the National Humanities Without Walls Consortium, and several others. He has published essays in Black Perspectives, The Carryall, and the Washington Post, as well as a peer-reviewed article in The Journal of Civil and Human Rights.
Dr. Render teaches a range of courses, from the HIST 1302—U.S. History Since 1865 survey to upper-level courses on African American history, particularly the civil rights and Black Power movements. His courses rely on open access material and use alternative sources, such as music, documentaries, and podcasts. Overall, Dr. Render cultivates an engaging classroom environment in order to help students think historically, improve communication skills, and develop independent learning strategies.
Aside from research and teaching, Dr. Render enjoys writing and recording music, traveling, and watching movies.
Curriculum Vitae
Faculty profile
Contact Info:
Liberal Arts 325
Email: bjrender@utep.edu