Faculty Profiles

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Dr. Leah Renold

  • Associate Professor - History

Biography and expertise

Leah Renold is a historian of South Asia who offers courses on the History of India and Gandhi and Nonviolence. She received her doctorate in Modern South Asian History from the University of Texas at Austin (1999). In 2005 Oxford University Press published her first book, A Hindu Education: The Early Years of Banaras Hindu University, which explores the complex inter-relationships between Hindu traditions, Hindu-Muslim relations, education, and colonial policy during the Indian independence movement. Dr. Renold has lived in India for over seven years and visits India regularly.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in History

University of Texas at Austin, 1999

Master's Degree

MA in Asian Studies

University of Texas at Austin, 1992

Bachelor's Degree

BA in Humanities

University of Texas at Austin, 1986

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Renold, Leah M. Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship for First-Year Hindi Intensive at the University of California at Berkeley. (Funded: 1990). Grant.
  • Renold, Leah M. Unholy Confluence: The Ganga River During the Colonial Period, Department of History (Everette and Donna Swinney Faculty Development Fund), Texas State University, $3000. (Funded: August 2024 - August 1, 2025). Grant.
  • Renold, Leah (Principal). Developmental Leave Grant 2014-15, Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $29895. (Submitted: August 1, 2015, Funded: September 1, 2014 - August 1, 2015). Grant.
  • Renold, Leah (Principal). Research Enhancement Grant 2007-2008, Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed). (Submitted: December 1, 2006, Funded: August 15, 2007 - July 15, 2008). Grant.
  • Renold, Leah (Principal). Meyerson Scholarship, Center for Asian Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Institutional (Higher Ed). (Submitted: March 1, 1996, Funded: August 15, 1997 - July 15, 1998). Grant.
View all grants
  • Renold, L. M. (2020). “Nationalist Education: The case of Banaras Hindu University and Malaviya.” In Global Education Systems: Handbook of Education Systems in South Asia. Singapore, Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3309-5_72-1
  • Renold, L. M. (2018). “The Mahatma and the Missionary:  Gandhi’s Conflicting Accounts of His First Encounter with Christianity.” Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History, 19(Spring 2018). https://doi.org/: For additional information about this article Access provided by Texas State University-San Marcos (30 Jan 2019 14:47 GMT) 10.1353/cch.2018.0006
  • Renold, L. M. (2018). “The Maharaja Grants the Brahman a Boon: The subordination of history to myth.” In M. Bhagavan & A. Hyder (Eds.), Hidden Histories: Religion and Reform in South Asia. Delhi, India: Primus Books. Retrieved from http://primusbooks.com/default.asp
  • Renold, L. M. (2017). Only the Impure Can Be Violated: Gandhi’s Views on Female Sexuality, Dalit Women, and Rape. Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Studies, 5(1), 1–11.
  • Renold, L. M. (2016, November). Interview with Dr. Leah Renold, Associate Professor, Modern South Asian History (Texas State University) - author of the book, “A Hindu Education: The Early Years of the Banaras Hindu University.” (Y. K. Upadhyaya, Ed.), IIT-BHU Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.itbhuglobal.org/chronicle/archives/2016/11/index-interviews.php#007735
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  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2018 College Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts. November 2017 - August 2018
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2020 Special Distribution of the Teaching Award of Honor, Texas State Alumni Association. 2020 - Present
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Faculty of the Year, Center for International Studies, Texas State. April 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Faculty of the Year, Center for International Studies. 2024 - April 16, 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: • “Favorite Professor”, Alfred H. Nolle Chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Texas State University. 2012
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  1. Faculty Handbook Committee

  2. Other

    Peace and Social Justice Minor

  3. Editorial Review Board Member

    Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Studies

  4. Member

    History Curriculum Committee

  5. Member

    Study Abroad Committee

  6. Treasurer

    Southwest Conference on Asian Studies

  7. View all activities