Meghan Helena Martinez was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated with her B.A. from Florida State University in 2006, where she double majored in American History and English Literature. She continued her graduate studies at Florida State, receiving her M.A. (2008) and Ph.D (2018) in American history, specializing in contemporary social issues. Her current work focuses on social and political history in the US. She is an enthusiastic supporter of FSU's sports & arts programs, as well as a lifelong fan of the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, and Florida Panthers.
Conspiracy Theories in US History
This course examines Conspiracy Theories in US History. We will consider: what constitutes a conspiracy theory, the psychology of conspiracy theories, and how we should live with conspiracy theories. We will study the psychological and social factors that have impacted the proliferation of conspiracy theories in US history and the anxieties in society that conspiracy theories address.
Taylor Swift and Modern American History
This course examines Modern American History through Taylor Swift music. In addition to examining Ms. Swift’s work, we will also consider her musical influences (i.e. Joni Mitchell) and those she herself influenced (i.e. Olivia Rodrigo). We will examine the social, economic, and political context for the music these artists created and the issues they wrote about.
American Coffee: Coffee Culture & Consumption in US History
Although the majority of Americans include coffee in their daily routine, few know much about where coffee comes from or how it ended up in their cups. This course will examine the coffee industry and the culture of coffee drinking that has emerged in the US. We will consider what it takes agriculturally and economically to get coffee beans into coffee shops, trace the development of coffee houses in early America, and examine the coffee industry’s global impact.