David Stebenne

David Stebenne is a Professor of History and Law at The Ohio State University, affiliated with the Department of History and Moritz College of Law. His interdisciplinary work bridges modern American political and legal history, with a focus on postwar liberalism and conservatism.

Education

• B.A. in History from Yale University
• Ph.D. in History from Columbia University
• J.D. in Law from Columbia University

Research Interests

Stebenne specializes in American political and legal history, particularly examining the evolution of New Deal liberalism, modern conservatism, and church-state relations in 20th-century America. His work also explores the socioeconomic transformation of the American middle class from 1929 to 1968, with ongoing research on its decline since the late 1960s.

Public Engagement

He contributes to public discourse through media appearances on WOSU radio, NPR, and the BBC World Service, as well as articles in The Conversation, Huffington Post, and a Substack newsletter titled Democracy in America Now, focusing on historical context for the 2024 presidential election.

Academic Service

Stebenne serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Policy History and has chaired prestigious award committees, including the Littleton-Griswold Book Prize Committee and the Richard W. Leopold Prize Committee. He is also affiliated with OSU's Election Law Group and Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA).