Sean Vanatta

Dr. Sean Vanatta is a Senior Lecturer in Financial History and Policy at the University of Glasgow's Department of Political & International Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of democracy, finance, and regulatory frameworks in modern America. Key works include Plastic Capitalism (2024), analyzing credit card-driven financialization, and Private Finance, Public Power (2025), co-authored with Peter Conti-Brown, which traces bank supervision history. He has held prestigious fellowships, including at Princeton’s Julis-Robinowitz Center.

Vanatta’s education includes a PhD from Princeton (2018) and degrees from the University of Georgia. Before Glasgow, he taught at NYU’s Gallatin School and Princeton’s Writing Program. His research projects include the role of pensions in reshaping financial markets and global interwar banking networks. He also contributes to policy discussions through grants like the 'Political Economy Futures Forum' (2024-2027).

His awards include the National Endowment for the Humanities Hagley Fellowship and the John E. Rovensky Fellowship. He advises on topics in modern U.S. history, financial history, and capitalism. Teaching includes modules like 'Globalization of International Banking and Finance' and 'Money and Finance in U.S. Society.'