Melissa Fore
Assistant Professor | Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, UNITED STATES
Melissa Fore teaches how concepts of race, class, gender, and sexuality are socially and culturally constructed.
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Biography
Melissa Fore, PhD teaches in the Humanities, Culture and Writing department at James Madison College. Her writing classroom explores how concepts of race, class, gender, and sexuality are socially and culturally constructed through social, political, and economic values. She asks students to consider how the cycles of socialization have influenced their understanding of identity and community in order to engage in writing assignments that examine structural racism, the affordable housing crisis, and challenging gender norms. Her courses examine approaches to outreach and engagement in order to give students models for addressing inequities that plague their communities. Dr. Fore’s teaching helps students see how identity formation is linked to power and privilege, and how dismantling white supremacy is central to social, political, and economic justice. Current research interests include challenging the notion that sex education curriculums can teach students about “consent” without a clear focus on gender norms and the role masculinity (both traditional and violent) plays in relationships. She is also working with undergraduate researchers on a project that examines representation of race and gender in high school history textbooks.
Professor Fore teaches courses in the first-year writing program and is a core faculty member of Michigan State University's Center for Gender in a Global Context.
Industry Expertise (2)
Education/Learning
Writing and Editing
Areas of Expertise (2)
Gender Policy
Social Theory
Accomplishments (1)
Ken and Sandy Waltzer Teaching Excellence Award, James Madison College, Michigan State University (professional)
2021
Education (1)
Michigan State University: Ph.D., English 2009
Links (1)
News (4)
MSU professors adapt as they work to 'salvage the semester'
Lansing State Journal online
2023-03-21
Melissa Fore, a professor in the James Madison College, had to change significant parts of her coursework following the shooting. Much of her class focused on the documentary “Tough Guise 2,” which examines “violent masculinity” and mass shootings specifically.
How community members are aiming to reform East Lansing sex education
The State News online
2023-01-31
SEAB co-chair Melissa Fore believes the biggest issue with the current curriculum for sex education is the lack of representation. Fore has advocated for representation of race, sexual orientation and identity – especially since becoming a professor. Fore is an assistant professor at Michigan State University for writing classes. Here, she speaks about the “politics of identity.” She brings this perspective with her to the SEAB. “I was always hyper-aware of what representations of African American students look like or if there were students with different abilities or how they portrayed students of color, or if all the graphics were white body parts,” Fore said.
Marble Equity Team Hosts Film Screening, Discussion of Social Disparities
ELi Archives online
2020-01-24
Melissa Fore, Fixed-Term Faculty at James Madison College at MSU and founding member of the Marble Equity Team, critiqued the notion of feminizing such values, arguing that compassion and empathy should be human values. The panel agreed and suggested remedies, such as investing taxpayer money in schools and mental health, using privilege for positive change, and pushing for necessary reform even when the road is slow and difficult.
MSU prof cancels class for socialism conference
Campus Reform online
2019-04-16
A public affairs professor canceled class in early April so that students could attend a conference on race and socialism. MSU professor Melissa Fore, who teaches in the university’s public affairs school, canceled class on April 1, according to an email from the professor to her class recently obtained by Campus Reform.
