Profile Piece: Mark Forest
by Viveca Stucke
The pillar of education is learning, but one of the most vital aspects that needs to be incorporated is practical experience. Professor Mark Forest, who teaches a multitude of Government classes at the college has integrated his real-world experience into his lessons which improves success in his courses.
“Professor Forest’s professional background in politics provides a wealth of pertinent experience and information to draw from.” said Liberal Arts major, Robert Simmons. “Professor Forest’s professional background allows every topic to be explained in a way that conveys not only the strict procedural guidelines and rules that are followed in government, but also the greater context and importance of them as it applies to us as students and citizens.” Simmons has taken American Government and Comparative Politics with Professor Forest, which are two of his most popular courses.
The application of experience into the discussion of Professor Forest’s lessons allow students to gain a more well-rounded education. Simmons emphasized this, and how Professor Forest’s classes reinforce ideals of utilizing real-life contexts to grasp concepts.
“Professor Forest’s classes have aided my education very much, not only by inspiring great personal interest in the subject but by encouraging hands on involvement and contextualizing difficult concepts in a way that anyone can understand.” added Simmons. This is because Professor Forest’s professional background is the foundation for this approach to learning and helps to strengthen the impacts of the lessons he teaches.
At the young age of 18, Forest was elected as a Representative Town meeting member. Then, in 1984, he filled the role of the Cape and Islands Campaign Director for US Senator Paul Tsongas. His political career continued to augment itself; In 1985, he joined the staff of Congressman Gerry Studds, and in 1996 he served as an aide to Congressman Bill Delahunt and became his Chief of Staff in 2005. The work on these political campaigns have strengthened his knowledge in the field of politics, and he is now an elected Yarmouth Selectman, and Barnstable County Commissioner. These experiences are vital and allows for Professor Forest to emphasize the concepts that he is teaching through the integration of real-world knowledge.
Mark Forest
“In politics, it is important to get experience.” Said Forest “You need to get involved – take the time to work on a campaign or intern in a political office.” Forest incorporates the aspect on involvement in his class through the encouragement of students to educate themselves on current events.
“The overall lessons I have learned from Professor Forest’s classes have been to keep yourself educated on political issues all over the world not just in the United States.” said Political Science major Garrett Gomes. “His classes have aided my education. Looking up news stories has helped me in researching not only for this class but in other classes as well.” Through this, Professor Forest’s students gain deeper levels of academic enrichment through the unique learning structure and are able to conceptualize the lessons taught in class more practically.
“His professional background in politics has helped me see real life examples from a person who has experienced politics firsthand.” said Sean Spiegel, a student in Professor Forest’s current Comparative Politics course. “I have learned that the world of politics is ever changing and is so much different throughout the entire world.” Spiegel emphasized how Forest was able to give him a wider view on politics and introduced him to different perspectives.
Through his teaching methods, Forest ingrains a deeper message to his students. By understanding the importance of practical political knowledge, his students can reinforce those ideals into their professional lives.
“I emphasize the importance of getting involved, serving your community and in running for office. Everyone can make a difference.” Said Forest. “I think it’s important for students to understand how they can make a difference and have a very positive impact on the world. That there are steps every student can take to improve their community. They need to ignore the noise and the critics and stay true to their heart, to get involved and – or as Teddy Roosevelt once said – ‘to get into the arena’ and fight for the things they care about.”
Government and Politics are areas of study that require an understanding of the real world, and the best way to gain that knowledge is through a professor who uses his experience to strengthen the lessons he teaches, and Professor Forest does this.
If you’re interested in taking a course with Professor Forest, he is teaching International Relations and American Government remotely this upcoming Spring semester.
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