Getting to know David Fasenfest

David Fasenfest received his Ph.D. in Sociology in 1984 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he also earned three master’s degrees in sociology, Chinese studies and economics. He obtained his B.A. in Economics from City College of CUNY, New York.

What are your research interests?

My research interests center on urban sociology, race/class/gender, labor markets and workforce development, income inequality and community economic development.

What are you currently working on?

Analyzing the nature of social sustainability, exploring how we might incorporate this concept in manufacturing investments, examining the social nature of markets and developing an alternative vision of the future for Detroit.

How long have you been with Wayne State?

I started at WSU in 1998, first as Director of the Center for Urban Studies and associate professor of urban affairs in the College of Urban, Labor, and Metropolitan Affairs. Since 2005, I am an associate professor of sociology.

In what publications can we find some of your work?

I am an editor of the journal, Critical Sociology, published by SAGE. In 2002, I founded and became editor of Studies in Critical Social Sciences, a book series published by Brill Academic Press, currently with over 70 books released in the series.