Dr. Jennifer Burns

Biography

Jennifer Burns is the Edgar E. Robinson Professor of History at Stanford University. She specializes in twentieth-century United States history, focusing on the intersection of intellectual, political, and cultural history. Her research interests include how ideas about the state, markets, and capitalism influence policy and politics. Burns is the author of several influential works, including "Milton Friedman: Conservative," which became a finalist for the 2025 Reagan Book Prize and the 2024 Hayek Prize. She also wrote "Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right," which provides an intellectual biography of the libertarian novelist Ayn Rand. In addition to her books, she has published articles in several academic and popular journals such as Reviews in American History and the New York New Republic, addressing themes of conservatism, libertarianism, and liberalism. Burns is actively involved in teaching at Stanford, offering courses on topics such as capitalism and neoliberalism in Chile during the 2025-2026 academic year. She serves as a faculty advisor for graduate students and is a founding faculty member of the American Religions in Global Context program at Stanford. Her commitment lies in mentoring students and aiding them in navigating academic careers, providing insight into the realities of the academic job market for historians.

Research Interests