Abigail Swingen

Abigail Swingen is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Texas Tech University, specializing in Early Modern Britain, British Imperial History, Political Economy, and Early Modern Europe. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has received accolades including the President's Excellence in Teaching Award (2014) and multiple fellowships.

• Education: B.A. (Hons) from Swarthmore College, M.A. and Ph.D. from University of Chicago

Her research examines the intersection of finance, politics, and empire-building, particularly in her book Competing Visions of Empire (Yale, 2015), which analyzes how English political economy shaped Atlantic slavery and colonial labor systems. She also explores connections between Britain's Financial Revolution and imperial expansion in her current work.

Dr. Swingen's publications focus on early modern financial crises, imperial stability, and labor ideologies. Her awards include NEH Summer Stipends, Huntington Library Travel Grants, and postdoctoral fellowships at the Huntington Library and Yale's Beinecke Library.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Second Place President's Faculty Book Award (2017)
  • NEH Summer Stipend Program (2017)
  • Huntington Library Travel Grants (2017)
  • Scholar Catalyst Program (2015, 2017)
  • Barbara Thom Postdoctoral Fellowship (2011-2012)
  • Frederick A. and Marion S. Pottle Fellowship

She has held leadership roles including Associate Vice President for Research (2019-2021) and participates in the 2022-23 Institute for Inclusive Excellence Cohort at TTU.