James De Lorenzi

James De Lorenzi is an Associate Professor of History at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. He specializes in modern imperial history with a focus on the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region. His work bridges historical theory, microhistory, and the intersection of orientalism with anthropological studies.

• PhD, University of Pennsylvania (2008)
• AM, University of Pennsylvania (2003)
• BA, University of Texas at Austin (2000)
• Austin Community College (1995-1997)

His research explores colonial violence, counterinsurgency strategies, and the role of experts in empire-building. Notable works include Feasting on History (2025), analyzing Ethiopian-Orientalist intellectual exchanges, and a collaborative study on early modern Ethiopian intellectual Täsfa Ṣeyon.

Dr. De Lorenzi co-edits Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and previously managed Northest African Studies. He advises John Jay's International Criminal Justice and Middle East Studies programs. His current research examines colonial violence dynamics in Ethiopia through an interdisciplinary lens.