Beth Baron

Beth Baron is a Distinguished Professor at City University of New York (CUNY) focusing on Middle Eastern history with specializations in gender studies and medical history. She directs the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center and previously served as President of the Middle East Studies Association.

Her research examines marginalized communities in historical archives, particularly women, children, and slaves in modern Egypt. Current projects include books on childbirth in Egypt and imperialism in the Nile Valley.

Baron's publications concentrate on colonial medicine, gender politics, and social history in the Middle East, with recent work analyzing disease transmission and public health policies. Her 2022 articles explore venereal diseases in colonial Egypt and cholera quarantine measures.

• Mellon Sawyer Seminar Grant (2020-2022)
• Carnegie Scholar (2007-2008)

Research has been funded by ACLS, Carnegie Corporation, Fulbright-Hays, and NEH. She leads advocacy efforts through the MESA Global Academy supporting displaced scholars.