Markus is a PhD student and graduate assistant in the Department of History at the Ohio State University – Columbus. He was born and raised in Germany and has spent a year of his life in Medellín, Colombia. His research interests include the history of American foreign relations and 20th century American and Latin-American history. His dissertation examines the thoughts and deeds of American Protestant Missionaries and their Brazilian believers who helped make Brazil the fourth largest Protestant country in the world. Integrating materials from public and private archives in both countries, he seeks to showcase the political and cultural consequences for Brazilian society and U.S.-Brazilian relations. Markus has taught “Making America Modern” as a discussion section leader and guest-lectured on several occasions.