Garrett Brown

Garrett Brown is a Research Fellow in the Humanities at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he explores the moral, historical, and philosophical foundations of classical liberalism and their relevance for contemporary society.

In this role, Garrett hosts Humane Pursuits, a podcast and newsletter that engages scholars and public intellectuals in sustained conversations about liberal institutions, pluralism, and the ideas that undergird a free and humane society. Drawing on the humanities—history, philosophy, religion, and literature—his work complements Mercatus’s strengths in law and economics by addressing the cultural and formative dimensions of liberal self-government.

Before assuming his current role, Garrett served as deputy director of research operations at Mercatus and previously led the Center’s publications department for more than a decade. In that capacity, he directed peer review, editing, and production for books, policy analyses, and congressional testimony, while developing editorial standards that strengthened the quality and visibility of Mercatus scholarship.

Garrett has developed and edited more than 80 books over his career and previously worked as an acquiring editor in the book division of the National Geographic Society and as a marketing manager at the Cato Institute. He holds an M.A. in English language and literature from the University of Virginia, with a focus on 18th-century British literature.