s a Professor of History at the
University of Colorado and a digital
humanities innovator, I specialize in
medieval and early modern history,
focusing on the dynamic interplay of
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
cultures. My academic journey, rooted
in a PhD from the University of Texas
at Austin, is dedicated to exploring
the rich complexities of Spain,
Iberia, and the [Global Middle
Ages](https://grants.uccs.edu/igma/).
Yet, it is grounded in industry and
government, based on my prior almost
decade long career in research
forecasting at the Institute for the
Future and governmental management
consultant and strategic planning. My
current work is distinguished by my
innovative use of virtual reality,
MOOCs, big data, and AI in historical
manuscript studies, aiming to
transform our approach to teaching,
research, and knowledge creation. My
career and life is characterized by a
global scope, delving into the
histories of regions like Spain,
Portugal, Italy, the UK, Germany,
France, Norway, the Netherlands,
Sweden, Iceland, Mexico, and South
America. This includes prior residence
in Spain, Bolivia, and South America,
in addition to my native United States
(TX, PA, CA, CO). This broad
perspective enriches my research and
teaching, allowing me to weave diverse
historical narratives. A pivotal
aspect of my work is my involvement
with over 70,000 citizen scholars via
MOOCs, university students, high
school students, and the general
public. This includes leading the
“Immersive Global Middle Ages”
project, which uses advanced digital
tools to bring historical narratives
to life. In December 2023, I launched
a [Coursera.org Specialization titled
“Personal Journeys: Identity,
Motivation, and
Resilience.”](https://www.coursera.org/specializations/identity-motivation-resilience)
This three-course series explores the
Renaissance’s cultural and
intellectual legacy and modern global
perspectives, focusing on
self-discovery, motivation, and
overcoming societal challenges. The
courses offer an intellectual tapestry
designed to foster resilience and
growth in both personal and
professional spheres. Central to my
vision for future research and
education is training AI as a
“[collaborative AI humanist and
scholar](https://urraca-ai.org/),” an
endeavor that transcends academic
research to pioneer new forms of
human-AI collaboration. This
initiative is about deepening our
collective understanding of history’s
longue durée through the lens of
innovative technology.