Franco R. Batista Garcia

Biography

I am currently a full-time student doing my MA in Global History at Free University of Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin. My areas of historical interest include, but are not limited to: United States political history, early-20th century ultra-nationalist movements, political and social revolutions, political violence, democratic/republican decline, and (most recently) Cuban-American relations.

Maps were my gateway into loving history. I used to color history coloring books that included maps, flags, and figures that I altered with my personal, artistic touches. I did not consider persuing a career path in history until highschool. After much self-reflection, and discussions with family, friends, and wonderful history teachers, I decided to persue it in earnest. Working closely with professors and fellow students at Florida International University was an enriching experience, both personally and professionally. My experiences as a research assistant and as a museum educational intern opened my eyes to the use of imagery in historical research and teaching. Being a visual person helped.

Now it's not only providing a lense to view the world around me (especially events in the U.S.), but also a way to connect to my family's past in Cuba and Spain.