Sean Lawrence

Sean Lawrence is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at West Virginia University within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. His research bridges modern German history with global themes of empire, colonialism, environmental history, and political economy through multilingual analysis (German, French, Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Arabic).

• Degrees:
  • Ph.D., Modern European History, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • M.A., European History, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • M.A., UNESCO World Heritage Studies, Brandenburg University of Technology
  • B.S., Political Science, Santa Clara University

His work examines German-Ottoman interactions in environmental engineering and financial colonialism during the 19th–20th centuries, revealing continuities in transnational development practices. Current projects include the book Arcadia Lost: Business and Nature at the End of Empire, which traces Deutsche Bank’s role in reshaping Anatolian ecosystems.

Publications reflect interdisciplinary engagement with Middle Eastern history, heritage studies, and environmental management trends. Courses taught span from Ancient History to Modern Germany, emphasizing comparative analysis of empires, environmental change, and political systems.