Sherene Seikaly is an associate professor of history at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she specializes in Middle Eastern studies. Seikaly published her first book in 2016 titled “Men of Capital: Scarcity and Economy in Mandate Palestine.” The book examines how Palestinian capitalists and economists contended with the realities of scarcity under British colonial rule in the early 20th century.

In addition to her scholarly work, Seikaly serves as one of the editors of the International Journal of Middle East Studies, which is considered the flagship journal in the field of Middle East studies. Her role editing this prestigious publication allows her to help shape the academic discourse around Middle Eastern history, politics, economics and culture.