Zoe Ann Griffith

Zoe Ann Griffith is an Assistant Professor of History at Baruch College’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, specializing in the social and economic history of the Ottoman Empire with a focus on Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University, an M.A. from UC Berkeley, and a B.A. from UCLA. Her research examines merchant networks, environmental governance, and political economy in early modern Egypt and the Ottoman Mediterranean.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History, Brown University (Providence, RI)
• M.A. in History, UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
• B.A. in History and Middle East/North African Studies, UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Research Interests: Dr. Griffith’s work explores how financial systems, environmental policies, and social networks shaped Ottoman governance in Egypt. She has published on topics like waqf institutions, Mediterranean trade, and the political ecology of agricultural systems. Her current book project investigates Egyptian merchant networks during the 18th century.

Awards:

• Sydney N. Fischer Graduate Student Paper Prize (2012)
• Brookings Institute-Sakip Sabanci Award (2008)

Grants & Service: She received PSC-CUNY grants for research on Ottoman political economy (2019–2023) and serves on Baruch’s History Department curriculum committee and Weissman curriculum committee. Her professional service includes roles in the American Research Center in Egypt’s fellowship selection process.