David William Cohen (born 2 June 1943) is Emeritus Professor of History and Anthropology at the University of Michigan.
He specializes in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda) and is a leader in the emerging field of historical anthropology.
He is Honorary Research Fellow, Archive and Public Culture Initiative, University of Cape Town.
He taught at Johns Hopkins University, and was later professor of anthropology and history and director of the Program of African Studies at Northwestern University.
With E. S. Atieno Odhiambo, he wrote on the multiple investigations into the 1990 disappearance and death of Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Robert Ouko.