James G. Basker is an American scholar, writer, and educational leader. He is president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute and Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, Columbia University.
He studied English at Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa) and Cambridge University, and graduated from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, with a D. Phil in English.[1] Basker is currently the Richard Gilder Professor in Literary History at Barnard College,[2] Columbia University, having previously taught at Harvard, Cambridge and NYU.[3] He is also the president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, founder of the Oxbridge Academic Programs, a fellow of the Society of American Historians, and a member of the American Antiquarian Society. He was elected to the board of the American Association of Rhodes Scholars in 2007.[4]
Basker’s scholarly work focuses on 18th Century literature, specifically the life and writings of Samuel Johnson and the history of slavery and abolition.
Dr. Basker currently lives in New York City with his wife, Angela Vallot. They have two daughters, Anne and Katherine.