Robert Forrant

Robert Forrant is a Distinguished University Professor and Co-Director of the Senior Research Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Regional Economic and Social Development. He holds a Ph.D. in History from UMass Amherst (1994) and maintains active teaching responsibilities in U.S. history, labor studies, and global development.

His research focuses on labor history, deindustrialization, and regional economic development, with particular expertise in New England's industrial decline. Forrant's scholarly work examines the interplay between global economic forces and local community impacts, especially regarding immigrant labor, textile industry collapses, and post-industrial urban recovery.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent themes in deindustrialization studies, labor movement history, and regional economic policy. His work spans historical analysis of events like the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike to contemporary examinations of corporate restructuring and worker exploitation in the 21st century.

Award highlights include:

• University of Massachusetts President's Award for Public Service (1998)
• UMass Lowell Teaching Excellence Awards (1998, 2003, 2007)
• American Antiquarian Society Kate B. and Hall J. Peterson Fellowship (2001)

Forrant actively supervises Master's thesis students and serves on doctoral committees while maintaining significant advisory roles. His grant portfolio demonstrates deep engagement with community-university partnerships, including the Massachusetts Benchmarks Initiative analyzing regional economic indicators and the Lowell National Historical Park ethnographic study on immigration and globalization. Current research focuses on the creative economy and Northeastern Massachusetts economic development.