About
Sam Lebovic is a Professor in the Department of History and Art History at George Mason University. He specializes in U.S. political, media, and foreign relations history with a focus on civil liberties, national security, and cultural globalization. Educated at the University of Sydney (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (Ph.D.), he held postdoctoral fellowships at NYU and Rutgers before joining Mason in 2013.
His research explores the intersection of free speech, state secrecy, and media economics. Notable works include Free Speech and Unfree News (Harvard, 2016) and State of Silence (Basic Books, 2023), which examines the Espionage Act’s impact on American democracy. He currently serves as Co-Editor of the Journal of Social History and held a Senior Visiting Research Scholar position at the Knight First Amendment Institute (2023-24).
Lebovic’s scholarship bridges academic and public spheres, appearing in venues like The Boston Globe and Politico. His grants/fellowships include awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. He teaches courses on cultural globalization, media history, and U.S. foreign policy.
