Ricardo Álvarez-Pimentel
Assistant Professor of History
Areas of Specialization
Mexico, Colonial and Modern Latin America, Race, Gender, Catholicism, Revolutions & Authoritarian Politics, Fascism, the Cold War, and U.S.-Latin American Relations
Education
Ph.D., Yale University
M.A., Yale University
B.A., University of Chicago
Academic Interests & Research Narrative
My research interests include the history of revolutions and upheavals, authoritarian politics, nationalism, religion, gender and race relations as they pertain to Latin America and the Caribbean region. I am currently working on my first book, which is tentatively titled “Restoring All through Christ”: Counterrevolution and the Women of Mexican Catholic Action, 1917-1946 (under contract with the University of Nebraska Press). This work examines the rise and fall of a social, political, and religious movement spearheaded by upper-class laywomen from Mexico City. It traces the evolution of their political projects from the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to the early Cold War.
In addition to my forthcoming book, I am currently revising two peer-reviewed articles that have been accepted for publication: one on Mexican women’s political Catholicism (with Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos), and another on U.S.-Mexico relations as seen through the eyes of the U.S. Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal society (with Diplomatic History). I am in the process of writing another article on the politics of visual culture in Mexican Catholic youth magazines. I am also writing a book chapter on the Texas Knights of Columbus Historical Commission and its perceptions of “Spanish Texas” during the Red Scare.
For more than 10 years, I have worked with archival collections in Mexico, Europe, and the United States while publishing in English- and Spanish-language journals, print and digital. Since 2020, I have also been a co-founder and president of the “Historians of Catholic Mexico” (HISTCATMEX) academic network. I organize seminars, workshops, and conferences that engage U.S. and Mexican historians of all levels—from advanced graduate students to emeritus scholars.
Finally, I am currently in the process of designing a new course on the history of Waco’s Mexican American community. This class will encourage students to engage with the transnational dimensions of local history through oral histories and archival research. In the classroom, I strive to create a safe and equitable learning environment that encourages dialogue and diverse perspectives. This involves intentionally crafting inclusive syllabi and facilitating student discussion to promote active listening and mutual understanding. Prior to my arrival at Baylor, I worked with talented and inquisitive students at Yale, SUNY-Albany, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I welcome inquiries about my research and academic interests.
Why I Chose Baylor
I came to Baylor to pursue historical scholarship driven by a commitment to social justice. My research takes a critical approach to Latin American Catholicism and examines the role of institutional religion in both challenging and furthering class, gender, and racial divides in the region. At the same time, my teaching emphasizes compassion and humility. I teach students to think critically, but also encourage them to strive toward mutual understanding. As higher education grows more contentious, Baylor remains a place where I can simultaneously pursue both of these goals: cutting-edge scholarship and constructive pedagogy. I strongly believe that this is possible thanks to Baylor’s unique vision and identity, and the university’s commitment to its faculty and students.
Biography
I am a Mexican immigrant who has lived in the United States for over 25 years. I was born in Mexico City and partly raised in Miami, Florida before pursuing my undergraduate education. I was the first person in my family to study college in the U.S. and the only one to pursue a doctorate. Because of these experiences, I am deeply committed to the wellbeing and academic success of Baylor’s first-generation students.
Selected Publications
Books
“Restoring All through Christ”: Counterrevolution and the Women of Mexican Catholic Action, 1917-1946 (University of Nebraska Press, manuscript under contract, in progress).
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
"Unspoken Whiteness: #Whitexicans and Religious Conservatism in Mexico," Journal of Hispanic and Lusophone Whiteness Studies (2020), vol. 1:4, pp. 48-69.
"Guerra Fría, Guerra Cristera, Guerreras Católicas: El conservadurismo y feminismo católico de la Juventud Católica Femenina Mexicana (JFCM), 1926-1939." Nuevo Mundo, Mundos Nuevos (2017).
Essays
"Adopting the American Racial Lens: A History of Mexican Migration to Chicago from the Town of Arandas, Jalisco," Chicago Journal of History (2013), pp. 35-51.
Reviews
Review of Alberto García, Abandoning Their Beloved Land: The Politics of Bracero Migration in Mexico for American Historical Review (accepted, forthcoming).
Review of Jaime Pensado, Love and Despair: How Catholic Activism Shaped Politics and the Counterculture in Modern Mexico for Journal of Social History (January 2024).
Review of Margaret Chowning, Catholic Women and Mexican Politics, 1750-1940 for The Catholic Historical Review (Summer 2023).
Selected Activities
Awards (recent)
- Theron Rockwell Field Prize for best dissertation in the humanities; Yale University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (2022)
- Marion C. Sheridan Fellowship; Yale University, Graduate School Alumni Fund (2020-21)
Grants (recent)
- Alfred J. Beveridge Grant for Research in the History of the Western Hemisphere; American Historical Association (2023).
- Dorothy Mohler Research Grant; The Catholic University of America (2022-23).
Fellowships (recent)
- Hank Fellowship in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition; Loyola University Chicago, Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage (2021-22)
Presentations (recent)
- Jan. 2024: “Gendered Racial Politics and Mexican Catholic Action.” American Historical Association: 137th Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA).
- Nov. 2023: "Gendered White Supremacy in Modern Mexico." American Academy of Religion (San Antonio, TX).
- Sep. 2023: “Red Scare Hispanism and the Texas Knights of Columbus Historical Commission.” Carlos E. Castaneda's “Catholic" Texas?” Symposium (University of Texas, Austin; Austin, TX).
- Sep. 2023: “¿Nacionalismos transnacionales? El hispanismo católico conservador en México y los Estados Unidos durante el periodo de entreguerras.” VI Coloquio Nacional e Internacional de Estudios sobre las Derechas (Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico).
Regular Course Offerings
- Undergraduate:
- HIS 1300 | US in Global Perspectives - Fascism in the Global Americas
- HIS 3353/3355 | Pre-Columbian and Colonial Latin America/Modern Latin America
Other Courses Taught
- Undergraduate:
- HIS 4340 | The Mexican Revolution and Its Legacies
- Graduate:
- HIS 5350 | Topics in Latin American History
Work with Students
- Willing to advise undergraduate theses and direct undergraduate research.
- Willing to advise graduate independent study and comprehensive exam fields.
Follow Dr. Álvarez on:
Twitter: @ralvarezpi