Brandon Blakeslee, Assistant Professor, was born in Dallas, Texas but he grew up abroad. Dr. Brandon received his B.A. from Calvin University in sunny Grand Rapids, Michigan and a M.A. and PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Brandonâs teaching style emphasizes the interconnectedness of people, places and events, challenging students to think more globally about history. His research interests are in Modern Latin America in the early twentieth century, specifically on the development and popularization of sport as a tool of identity creation and state centralization. His dissertation was on how politicians and enthusiasts used Colombian soccer to foster nationalism and state cohesion.