A native of Pataskala, Ohio, Dr. Forren is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of Miami University’s Department of Justice & Community Studies and the Executive Director of the University’s Menard Family Center for Democracy. Previously, he taught in Miami’s Department of Political Science and served as Associate Director of the University’s Honors Program. Beyond Miami, Dr. Forren has also taught at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, East Carolina University, the College of William and Mary and the University of Indianapolis. From 2013-2016, Dr. Forren served as the Academic Director of Miami University’s Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Civic Engagement, which was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from The Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Forren’s research interests lie in the fields of civic engagement, American constitutional law and history, criminal justice, judicial politics and public policy-making.