Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an American historian and cultural critic. She is a scholar on fascism and authoritarian leaders. Ben-Ghiat is professor of history and Italian studies at New York University. Born in the United States to an Israeli-born Sephardi father and a Scottish mother, she grew up in Pacific Palisades, California. She graduated in history at UCLA and obtained a PhD in comparative history at Brandeis University. A member of the American Historical Association since 1990, she is professor of history and Italian studies at New York University. She regularly writes for CNN, The Atlantic and The Huffington Post.On February 13, 2023, it was announced that Ben-Ghiat would take up temporary residency at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as the Spring 2023 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals.