Jay Sexton

Professor Jay Sexton is the Rich and Nancy Kinder Chair of Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri. A specialist in the political and economic history of nineteenth-century America, particularly the Civil War era, he situates U.S. history within global contexts, focusing on interactions with the British Empire. Sexton frequently collaborates with international colleagues on multi-author volumes and transimperial projects.

His research bridges Atlantic history, global and imperial history, and U.S. constitutional developments during the 19th century. He co-edited seminal works such as The Cambridge History of America and the World and Crossing Empires, reflecting his commitment to comparative and transnational frameworks.

Sexton maintains strong ties to Oxford University, where he was a Fellow at Corpus Christi College, and returns annually to mentor students from Missouri in Atlantic history. His academic career emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of American history into broader global narratives.