Linda Arnold, professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and renowned authority on the history of Mexican law, has been conferred the “professor emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the university community for 29 years, Arnold developed and taught more than a dozen undergraduate writing intensive courses and Area 7 courses in the Curriculum for Liberal Education, and has directed nearly 30 undergraduate independent studies. She was a pioneer in digital history and, along with her students, created the website, The Mexican-American War and the Media.

For her distinction in teaching and mentoring, Arnold received two Certificates of Teaching Excellence from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (formerly the College of Arts and Sciences) and a Certificate in Recognition of Teaching Excellence from the University Writing Program.

Arnold wrote nine books; 12 articles in peer-reviewed journals; 17 chapters in edited anthologies; 16 book reviews; and 39 digital archives, compilations, archival guides, and archival finding aids. In addition, she served on the editorial boards of three academic journals, offered numerous workshops to students and faculty in Mexico, and was a member of numerous doctoral committees for student completing their degrees at Mexican universities.

She received her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach, a master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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