Joseph Fornieri


Joseph R. Fornieri is an American political historian and Professor of Political Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is an expert on the political ideology of Abraham Lincoln.
Dr. Fornieri is a political philosopher and expert on the political thought and statesmanship of Abraham Lincoln by day, but a blues/classic rock musician by night. Playing Rochester New York's pubs and bars, his band, "East End Drifters" fill the air with classic rock and smooth blues. Although Dr. Fornieri is primarily professionally focused on Lincoln, his works often contain echoes of ancient Greek society, Christian values, and woven in are also allusions to significant Rochester figures. Joseph Fornieri can be best described as a man with many passions, and as a philosopher educator.
He is the author/editor of numerous articles and four books on the 16th President, including "Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statseman", "The Language of Liberty: The Political Speeches and Writings of Abraham Lincoln", and "Abraham Lincoln’s Political Faith". He has also co-edited, with Dr. Kenneth Deutsch, "An Invitation to Political Thought", an introductory college text on western political thought.
In 2004, he was awarded the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching for Junior Faculty
In 2005, he was presented the Eisenhart Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
In 2009, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach "First Amendment and American Political Thought" in Prague, Czech Republic
In 2010, he was presented the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching for Tenured Faculty.
He is a 1987 graduate of SUNY Geneseo.
He is a member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity
He resides in Fairport, New York.

Publications