David Forrest

David Forrest is an Associate Professor of Politics and Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a BS in Political Science from Arizona State University (2006) and a PhD from the University of Minnesota (2014). His research focuses on political organization's role in shaping social, economic, and political inequalities in the U.S., with a focus on social movements and their impact on power structures.

He teaches courses on U.S. politics, interest groups, inequality politics, and power dynamics. Notable works include his 2022 book *A Voice but No Power*, which examines social justice organizing post-2008 recession and received the 2023 Outstanding Academic Title award. Forrest frequently engages in public discourse through interviews (e.g., with sociologist John Arena on education privatization) and contributes to journals like *Qualitative and Multi-Method Research* and *Social Policy*.

His work bridges theoretical analysis and grassroots activism, critiquing how institutional frameworks both enable and constrain social change efforts. Awards include recognition for his book's contribution to interdisciplinary scholarship.