Thomas M. Hanna is an independent researcher and author. He is the President and Founder of the Institute for a Democratic Economy and Society (IDES) and the former Research Director of The Democracy Collaborative. Thomas has authored dozens of reports, papers, and articles that have been published in both popular and academic journals. In 2018, his book Our Common Wealth: The Return of Public Ownership in the United States was published by Manchester University Press. Thomas is recognized internationally for his work on creating more democratic and participatory forms of public enterprise and organization, and he has served on the boards of multiple organizations and projects. Thomas received his M.A. and B.A. degrees in History from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Economy at the University of Glasgow (expected 2024). Thomas is a first generation immigrant to the United States, having arrived as a child in the early 1990s. He lives in Virginia with his partner and two children.