James G. Basker

James G. Basker is a distinguished American scholar, educator, and academic leader who currently serves as the Academic Director of Oxford Academia, a summer program for high school students in Oxford.23 He brings 35 years of experience introducing high school students to learning at Oxford to this role.2

Academic Career and Positions

Professor Basker has had a long and illustrious career in academia:

• He is the Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, where he has been teaching since 1987.1
• He also teaches at Columbia University's graduate school, a position he has held since 1990.1
• Since 1997, Basker has been serving as the President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and training for teachers and students nationwide.1

Expertise and Research

Professor Basker specializes in:

• 18th-century literature and history
• Anglo-American history and literature
• Slavery, resistance, and abolition
• Samuel Johnson and his circle
• 18th-century journalism1

Publications

Basker has authored and edited numerous books, including:

• "American Antislavery Writings: Colonial Beginnings to Emancipation" (2012)
• "Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery 1660-1810" (2002)
• "Tobias Smollett, Critic and Journalist" (1988)1

Educational Background

James G. Basker's educational credentials include:

• D.Phil. from Oxford University
• M.A. from Cambridge University
• A.B. from Harvard University1

His extensive experience and expertise in education, particularly in introducing students to Oxford-style learning, make him well-suited for his role as Academic Director at Oxford Academia.