Jim Brennan is an associate professor of history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

“I came to Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 1986 without a clear idea about what I wanted to study. After two years of classes in physics, calculus, and political science, I came to major in History because I enjoyed the classes far more than those in any other subject. In particular, I enjoyed the African history courses taught then by Donald Crummey and Charles Stewart, as well as some unforgettable medieval history taught by my now-colleague Megan McLaughlin. During my last year at Champaign, I realized that I was spending much of my free time reading history books outside of class, and at some point a light went on in my head:  I could make this passion into a career.  So after many years spent in Chicago, East Africa, London, and Washington DC, here I am back in Champaign!”