This June (2024), Dr. Pedro Santoni will retire from the History Department, and he will be missed by students, colleagues, and coworkers. He is an excellent scholar of Latin America, a demanding and enriching educator, and a stalwart mentor and colleague.

Dr. Santoni’s publications include three books – Mexicans at Arms: Puro Federalists and the Politics of War, 1845-1848 (TCU Press, 1996), Daily Lives of Civilians in Wartime Latin America (Greenwood, 2008), and Mexico, 1848-1853: Los Años Olvidados (Routledge, 2019) – and many other scholarly articles, book chapters, and reviews He earned a doctoral degree in Latin American history from El Colegio de México, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.

In addition to being an exacting mentor and editor, Dr. Santoni guided his students at CSUSB through rigorous readings and challenging assignments that helped them grow academically while empowering them with essential skills and knowledge of the field. The department also benefited greatly from his dedication, as he served in numerous committees and as chair for seven years.

I asked him to add a brief note as to what he’d be spending his time on in the coming months and years and to reflect on this moment, and this is what the “man of the hour” had to say: “Well, truth be told, the moment hasn’t ‘hit’ me yet. I’m still hard at work tinkering with my classes and trying to make them as interesting and challenging as possible. I will certainly miss those instances when students suddenly ‘get’ and/or make a challenging/interesting/surprising point, but rest assured I look forward to not having to grade (most) undergraduate essays. And as to what the future holds, well, in addition to having a long queue of books and movies I want to read and see (ranging from the mindless to the historical), I hope to stay limber and somewhat fit with daily swims and/or racewalks and/or yoga sessions (my wife invited me to join her class, and I’ve come to appreciate its benefits), and to continue coaching high school girls and youth soccer (as I’ve been doing for more than a decade now).”

Professor Tim Pytell of our History Department noted that, “Professor Pedro Santoni has been a mainstay and anchor for the department over the years.  After assuming leadership and chair of the department – after some rocky times – he righted the ship with his ability to call a spade a spade.  He brought the same approach to his teaching and students matured and thrived under his guidance.  Appropriately nicknamed ‘El Jefe’ his presence will be missed.”

Another department colleague, Professor Marc Robinson said of Professor Santoni: “I remember first meeting Pedro on the first day, and at the first event, of my campus interview. And, the impression that I got from him then has carried through our years of working as colleagues. Both relaxed and passionate. Funny, with an irreverent sense of humor. I am going to miss seeing him in the halls of the ‘loveboat,’ his technical difficulties in Zoom, and our brief chats about college football, especially Notre Dame. It’s been a pleasure working with you, Pedro! You’ll be missed.”

Thank you, Professor Pedro Santoni!