ABOUT

Jonathan Gienapp is a historian of the United States and its constitutional order. He teaches at Stanford University where he has appointments in both the History department and the Law School. He is the author of two books on American constitutional history and interpretation that have garnered wide acclaim. He is also a celebrated teacher who has been awarded numerous accolades for his teaching and dedication to students.

He grew up in Lincoln, Massachusetts where he became a die-hard Boston sports fan. He was educated at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University. Before arriving at Stanford, he taught at the University of Mississippi.

He has lectured across the country on the history of the nation’s founding and the U.S. Constitution. He is actively involved in deepening the public’s understanding of constitutional history through public-facing writing and interviews and extensive work with institutions such as the National Constitution Center and the United States Marine Corp. As a member of the Historians Council on the Constitution at the Brennan Center for Justice, he helps advise legal experts on the historical dimensions of constitutional issues before the Supreme Court of the United States. As part of this activity, he has contributed to several amicus briefs to the Supreme Court. He is also heavily involved in various initiatives to reinvigorate civics education in America.

He lives in Palo Alto, California with his wife, the historian Annie Twitty.