Andrew Priest

Dr. Andrew Priest is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex. He joined the university in 2013 after previously serving as a lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University from 2003. His academic career has been focused on United States history, particularly US foreign policy from the 19th century to the present.

Dr. Priest received his academic training at the University of Birmingham, where he earned a B.A. in History and American Studies in 1996, followed by a Ph.D. in American and Canadian Studies in 2003. During his doctoral studies, he was also a Research Associate at the Centre for Studies in Security and Diplomacy at Birmingham.

Dr. Priest's research focuses on US foreign policy since approximately 1860, with particular attention to the relationship between public opinion and foreign policy decisions, as well as Anglo-American relations. His work often examines how domestic political considerations shape international engagements, especially during presidential election cycles. He has published extensively on topics ranging from 19th century imperialism to contemporary US foreign policy challenges.

His publications reveal a consistent thread examining how American leaders have conceptualized the nation's role in the international system, particularly in relation to European powers and empires. Dr. Priest frequently analyzes historical analogies in foreign policy decision-making, with notable work on how the Vietnam War experience has influenced subsequent military interventions.

Among his significant achievements, Dr. Priest was named an Eccles Fellow in North American Studies at the British Library, recognizing his contributions to the field. He has also been a Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University in Washington DC, further establishing his reputation in US foreign policy studies.

Dr. Priest is actively involved in mentoring the next generation of historians, currently supervising PhD candidate Cecilia Varuzza. He has previously successfully guided three doctoral students to completion: Liam James Redfern (2024), Ryan Oliver Clarke (2023), and Claire Elizabeth Sims (2022). His teaching portfolio includes courses on America and the World, The United States and the Vietnam War, and Archives and Power, reflecting his diverse expertise in US history and methodology.