University of Reading cookie policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience, monitor site performance and tailor content to you

Read our cookie policy to find out how to manage your cookie settings

Mara Oliva

Mara Oliva
 

Areas of interest

I am a political historian and a digital humanist. I work at the intersection of history and digital technologies. My research focuses on twentieth-century US foreign policy history, particularly the US presidency, Soft Power, Climate Change Diplomacy and US-China relations. I am also the University’s Digital Humanities Academic Champion. In my role, I promote an understanding of Digital Humanities as a discipline within the University, and the integration of cultures and principles from Digital Humanities into wider research practice. I lead the Community of Practice and provide mentoring and subject-specific advice for digital research projects.

Postgraduate supervision

I am supervising PhD research on:

  • Aid, Oil and Human Rights: Re-evaluating U.S.-Guatemalan Relations, 1981-1986 (Richard Bolzano)
  • The Relationship between the United States and the Italian right-wing during the Nixon Administration (David Cardillo)
  • The San Francisco Ballet Company and the Cold War (Martha Hayakawa)

 

Previous PhD Supervision

  • Spies, Civil Liberties, and the Senate: The 1975 Church Committee (Dr Dafydd Townley, funded GTA studentship 2015-2018)
  • Cultural diplomacy and the Anglo-American 'Special Relationship' in the Middle East (Dr Darius Wainwright, 2016-2019)

Postgraduate research teaching/skills

Digital History

Digital Archives

Teaching

Undergraduate

  • Year 1: Journeys Through History: People, Power and Revolution
  • Year 2: The American Century
  • Year 3: The US and the Cold War
  • Year 3: The US and China in the Historical Context, 1882-1989
  • Year 3: Dissertation Supervision

Postgraduate MA (postgraduate taught)

  • Option: The US and China in the Cold War
  • Theory and Themes: Diplomatic History
  • Historical Skills and Resources: Digital History
  • Dissertation Supervision

Research centres and groups

Awards and honours

External Funding

  • 2023, British Library Eccles Centre for American Studies Fellowship.
  • 2023, British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Follow-up Grant: Co-I for Project: Researching the felt and lived experiences of in/security: a methodological exchange.
  • 2021, British Academy, Co-I for Project: Researching the felt and lived experiences of in/security: a methodological exchange.
  • 2021, British Academy, Co-I for Project: The Vulnerability Studies Network.
  • 2020, British Academy UK-Canada Knowledge Transfer grant. Project: US Environmental Security.
  • 2020, British Association of American Studies/US Embassy Small Grants. Project: Women and BAME Women in US Foreign Policy.
  • 2020, AHRC/UKRI Engaging with Government Programme 2020.
  • 2020, Institute for Economic and Social Research and Policy, Columbia University, New York City, Digital History Fellowship.
  • 2017, British Association of American Studies Research Grant.
  • 2014, Scouloudi Historical Award, Institute of Historical Research.
  • 2014, European Association for American Studies Small Research Grant.
  • 2010, Fulbright Award.
  • 2009, Royal Historical Society Individual Research Grant.

Research Awards

  • 2020, Society of Historians of US Foreign Policy Global Scholar award for paper: “A Public Diplomacy Failure: Eisenhower and the US press in China”
  • 2019, ECR Research Output Prize (second prize) for Heritage & Creativity Research Division, University of Reading, for monograph: Eisenhower and American Public Opinion on China (Palgrave MacMillan, 2018)
  • 2017, UROP Supervisor of the Year Award, University of Reading
  • 2017, UROP Project Award for Heritage & Creativity Research Division, University of Reading (student: Beth Snyder)

Teaching Awards

  • 2021, Winner of the RUSU Excellence Award, Academic Tutor, University of Reading.
  • 2019, Nominated for the RUSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Reading.
  • 2018, Nominated for the RUSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Reading.
  • 2017, Nominated for the RUSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Reading.
  • 2015, Nominated for the RUSU Personal Tutor Award, University of Reading.
  • 2015, Winner of the RUSU Research-led Teaching Award, University of Reading.

Websites/blogs

Twitter: @maraolivaPhD

Impact and public engagement

 Appearances on BBC Radio 4, BBC5Live, BBC Radio Ulster, TRT

Articles for the Conversation, the Geopolitics, Corriere della Sera and Alem-Mar

 Contribution to 2021, House of Commons, Foreign Affairs Committee, “A climate for ambition: Diplomatic preparations for COP26” report.

External Roles

Publications

  • Oliva, M. (2020) Nixon in China. In: Morgan, I. and White, M. , (eds.) The Presidential Image: A History from Theodore Roosevelt to Donald Trump. I.B. Tauris , London. ISBN: 97811788313599