Sarah McNamara

Research Interests

Sarah McNamara is Associate Professor of History and core faculty in the Latinx & Mexican American Studies Program at Texas A&M University. Her research examines the histories of Latinxs, women and gender, race and ethnicity, immigration, and labor in the modern United States. Dr. McNamara’s book, Ybor City: Crucible of the Latina South (UNC Press 2023), received the Sara A. Whaley Prize from the National Women’s Studies Association, the Bronze Medal in Nonfiction from the Florida Book Award, and Honorable Mention for the First Book Award from the Immigration and Ethnic History Society. 

Dr. McNamara believes community engagement and public history are essential to historical work. Her public humanities project “Nuestra Historia,” received the Preserving Place Award from the Florida Historic Trust in recognition of the 1937 Antifascist Women’s March historical mural and marker site. She has contributed to and managed oral history projects as well as led methodological trainings for communities. McNamara regularly works on K-12 curriculum development and contributes teacher training through organizations such as the National Humanities Center and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Dr. McNamara’s work has received support from the American Association for University Women, the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, and the American Historical Association. In recognition of Dr. McNamara’s commitment to teaching and student mentorship at Texas A&M University, she has received the Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Award, the Early Career Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching. Sarah McNamara is a native of Tampa, Florida and her family is from Ybor City.

Areas of Speciality

• Latino/a

• Race, Ethnicity and Immigration

• Oral History

• Labor

• History of Women and Gender