Crossroads at a Crossroads: Revising a College Textbook in Fraught Times

9:00 AM

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Explore how the authors of Texas: Crossroads of North America navigated political, cultural, and technological challenges—including AI, the Yawp project, and the digital humanities—while revising their textbook for today’s turbulent times.


Jesús F. “Frank” de la Teja
Professor Emeritus of History, Texas State University
Nancy Beck Young
University of Houston
Ron Tyler
Amon Carter Museum, Retired
Kendra DeHart
Sul Ross University

Session sponsored by:

⭐ Frank & Maggie de la Teja

Texas and the United States are navigating a time of intense social and economic change. The so-called culture wars, surging population, mounting demands on natural resources and electricity, and sharp divisions over immigration—both documented and undocumented—create a challenging landscape for textbook writers. Adding to the mix are questions about the role of artificial intelligence, the potential of the Yawp project to decentralize and demonetize history textbooks, and the ways social media, websites, and digital humanities reshape the preparation of educational materials. Is the traditional paperbound textbook on the verge of obsolescence? The co-authors of Texas: Crossroads of North America grappled with these issues while preparing the third edition of their book. This panel invites attendees to hear firsthand how the authors approached these complex questions and adapted their work to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

Session Moderator: Kendra DeHart, Ph.D.

Presenters

Jesús F. “Frank” de la Teja

Jesús F. “Frank” de la Teja is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of History at Texas State University and the inaugural State Historian of Texas (2007–2009). A scholar of Spanish, Mexican, and Republic-era Texas, he has authored numerous publications, served as president and executive director of the Texas State Historical Association, and contributed to history education statewide. His honors include the Captain Alonso de León Medal for Merit in History and recognition as a Hero of San Jacinto.

Nancy Beck Young

Nancy Beck Young is the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of History at the University of Houston and Director of the Center for Public History. A political historian specializing in gender, policy, elections, and the state, she is co-director of the digital humanities project Sharing Stories from 1977. An award-winning scholar and author of five books, she is currently working on biographies of John Nance Garner and the role of the first lady.

Ron Tyler

Ron Tyler is retired Director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (2006–2011) and former Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin. He served as Director of the Texas State Historical Association and editor-in-chief of The New Handbook of Texas. An award-winning author and curator, he has written extensively on American, Western American, Texas, and Mexican art and history, with major works including Texas Lithographs: A Century of History in Images and The Art of Texas: 250 Years.

Kendra DeHart

Kendra DeHart, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department at Sul Ross State University. A specialist in U.S., Texas, and women’s history, she has received multiple awards for her research and teaching, including the Kenneth E. Hendrickson, Jr. Award, and is completing a manuscript on West Texas women’s clubs in the post-WWII era.