Alumnus Returns Home to Teach at Arrupe College

Dr. Rene Luis Alvarez works with a student during a break from his Western Civilization to 17th Century class on Arrupe College's opening day last August.

Rene Luis Alvarez, PhD, recently accepted the position of Lecturer of History at Arrupe College, Loyola University’s two-year liberal arts degree-granting college. Dr. Alvarez received his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago, and completed his Master of Arts at Northwestern University specializing in secondary history education. He taught history and social studies in a Philadelphia suburban school district for several years before pursuing his doctorate in history at the University of Pennsylvania. His primary research interest is in the history of American education, and he has also written about the educational history of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Chicago during the late twentieth century. Dr. Alvarez taught classes at Arrupe as an adjunct instructor during the 2015-2016 school year.

Dr. Alvarez was interviewed by Fazila Kabahita, Loyola public history MA 2016, regarding his new position.

Q: Can you describe your position at Arrupe?

A: My new position is Lecturer of History in Arrupe College, Loyola University’s two-year liberal arts degree-granting college that prepares students to pursue their Bachelor degrees or move into meaningful employment. I will teach the introductory history courses “Western Civilization to the 17th Century” and “United States History to 1865” beginning in the Fall of 2016.

Q: How did you come about teaching?

A: I began my teaching career at the high school level. After I earned my Bachelor of Arts in History from Loyola, I completed the Master of Arts program at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, specializing in secondary history education. I taught history and social studies in a Philadelphia suburban school district for several years before pursuing my doctorate in history at the University of Pennsylvania.

Q: What are your primary research interests?

A: I entered Penn’s history program to study and research the history of American education. That continues to be my primary area of research. Within that, I have researched and written about the educational history of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Chicago during the late twentieth century. Researching in this field has provided me opportunities to explore other aspects of the past, such as urban history and ethnic history.