This presentation by Dr. Thomas draws on decades of research into how debates about U.S. citizenship have shaped literature and politics for over 150 years, themes he explored in his 2007 book Civic Myths: A Law-and-Literature Approach to Citizenship. His presentation will explore the complexity of citizenship in light of current events regarding civil liberties, immigration, and executive authority.

Dr. Brook Thomas is renowned for his interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of American literature, law, and history. Before joining the faculty at UCI in 1988, he had taught at various universities in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Germany. His acclaimed book The Literature of Reconstruction: Not in Plain Black and White (2017) earned the C. Hugh Holman Award and is considered a seminal work on post-Civil War literature and politics. Dr. Thomas has also been recognized with prestigious fellowships, including one with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany and one with the Woodrow Wilson Center. A former All-American cross-country runner and Olympic Trials marathoner, he holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara.