Raised in San Diego and Brooklyn, Jonah is a historian of capitalism and American political economy. He received his Ph.D. from American University in May 2024. His dissertation, “Bank and State: Money, Law, and Moral Economy in the United States, 1775-1896,” explores everyday people and civil servants’ legal and moral struggles to make money and banks meet their needs and serve their best interests in a capitalist democracy.
He has written on historical topics and current affairs for outlets including The Washington Post, The Conversation, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, and Commonplace: The Journal of Early American Life. He is currently working on his first book, which stems from his doctoral research and draws lessons from that history for monetary policymaking and democracy today.
In addition to his work, he helps manage the Treasury Historical Association’s scholarly prize and serves in a leadership role with the Washington Numismatic Society. He is a lifelong numismatist and enjoys spending time cooking, baking, exploring state and national parks, visiting museums, traveling, and spending time with his fiancé, his friends, and his family.
