Douglas Erwing, J.D., Ph.D.

Douglas Erwing, J.D., Ph.D., taught in the Honors College at the University of Houston for 17 years, including seven years as full-time faculty. During that time, he taught a wide range of subjects, including early American history, constitutional and civil rights law, and the Florentine Renaissance. He holds a J.D. and a Ph.D. in early American legal history and was a Mellon Fellow. While at UH, he also served as Director of the Bonner Leaders Program, a leadership development initiative focused on combating poverty in Houston.

Dr. Erwing has received multiple awards for both teaching and service. Outside of early American history, his academic passion is Italian Renaissance art. Alongside Dustin Gish, he co-owns The Cultured Traveller, leading educational tours in Italy centered on history and art. He has co-led trips for paying clients and Honors College students, and regularly offer art-focused walks and talks in Florence for students, alumni, and tourists. A certified Northern Italian wine expert, he is frequently recommended as a guide for UH Honors students traveling through Europe.

A native Houstonian, Dr. Erwing and his wife, Jennifer, own an apartment in Florence, where they spend several months each year exploring art, visiting friends, canvassing galleries, giving tours, and deepening their knowledge of art, architecture, food, and wine. Beyond academia, he has practiced law for 25 years in the areas of real estate, insurance, and general counsel work.