Dr. Paul Eiss

Associate Professor

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Biography

Paul K. Eiss is an associate professor in the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University. He has conducted extensive archival and ethnographic research in Mexico and is currently pursuing multiple research projects that examine practices and rhetoric surrounding collective violence and self-defense in contemporary Mexico. His work intersects with the study of mestizaje and the performance of Yucatán, particularly in regional theater from the early 19th century to the present. Eiss's research interests also include indigeneity, translation, and the politics of memory within revolutionary and post-revolutionary contexts in Yucatán. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2000 and has published books and numerous refereed articles focusing on Mexican socio-political issues and cultural performances.

Research Interests

Ethnographic Research Collective Violence Self-Defense Mestizaje Indigeneity Cultural Performance Memory Politics

Experience

Associate Professor

2000-01-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching and researching in the field of History with a focus on Mexico.

Courses

Mexico: Aztec Empire Drug War Mayan America Border Screening Mexico: Mexican Cinema, 1898 Present Extreme Ethnography Art, Anthropology, Empire

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.