A Little More

From being named the craziest bartender in San Francisco by the local newspaper to associate professor at AACC, Forrest Caskey has had rich experiences that connect him to the students here. From holding jobs as a bartender, sous chef, seabird biologist, dancer, travel writer and now a professor, Caskey holds an extra layer of understanding with his students as he worked full-time through both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Caskey discovered AACC soon after moving to Baltimore with his boyfriend. After visiting the college and seeing how students boisterously interacted with one another, he knew that AACC was the place to be. "It reminded me of my college experience. We were loud and from all races, ethnicities, sexualities and backgrounds," Caskey said. 

Teaching academic literacies, English, American studies, LGBT studies and pop culture, Caskey enjoys the ability to have the freedom and encouragement to teach in ways that reach today's learners. This includes making the classes fun and humorous while also helping his students realize they possess immense knowledge about the world.

As a participant in AACC's Center for Liberal Arts Work (CLAW), Caskey uses seminar-style learning to encourage students to lead discussions, share perspectives and actively participate in their education. He believes students should have opportunities to use what they learn to make a difference in their own lives and communities.

His students put that philosophy into practice through hands-on projects, including creating affordable cookbooks for food pantries, designing flyers and zines for events like Annapolis Pride, writing letters to elected officials and conducting oral history interviews.

Caskey is also launching an oral history project at AACC in which students record, publish and archive interviews with Anne Arundel County residents. The project will create a living collection of local stories, preserving community history while giving students meaningful learning experiences.

Beyond the classroom, Caskey remains actively involved in diversity and inclusion efforts on campus and in the community. “Diversity, inclusion and equity speak to the fundamental core of my morality and value system,” Caskey said.

Outside of AACC, you can find him playing a game like "Dungeons & Dragons," exploring cities and nature, enjoying long dinners with friends or reading fantasy novels.