Professor of Sociology
M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
B.A., University of California at Berkeley
Professor Brain's research and teaching interests focus on the connections between place-making, community-building, and civic engagement, and on sociological issues related to the planning and design of good neighborhoods, humane cities, and sustainable development at the regional scale.
In addition to research and theoretical writing on these topics, his work has led to practical involvements that include both independent consulting and neighborhood-oriented action research that engages students in collaboration with local community groups. Locally, he and his students have worked with city and county government as well as neighborhood and community groups. He has been recognized internationally as an expert on contemporary efforts to transform the way cities are built, and as a frequent contributor to educational programs for citizens and professional practitioners--- in collaboration with the Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development, the Seaside Institute, the Seaside Pienza Institute for Town Building and Land Stewardship, the Knight Program in Community Building, and the Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He is also a partner in High Cove, a village in the mountains of western North Carolina designed as an experiment in ecologically responsible development practices. His published research has included work in the sociology of work, professions, and work organizations; social theory; and the sociology of culture.
Professor Brain teaches courses in urban sociology; the sociology of space and place in contemporary cities and suburbs; sustainable communities; social theory; sociology of culture (including the arts, popular culture, material culture, science and technology); and social organization.
In addition to research and theoretical writing on these topics, his work has led to practical involvements that include both independent consulting and neighborhood-oriented action research that engages students in collaboration with local community groups. Locally, he and his students have worked with city and county government as well as neighborhood and community groups. He has been recognized internationally as an expert on contemporary efforts to transform the way cities are built, and as a frequent contributor to educational programs for citizens and professional practitioners--- in collaboration with the Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development, the Seaside Institute, the Seaside Pienza Institute for Town Building and Land Stewardship, the Knight Program in Community Building, and the Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He is also a partner in High Cove, a village in the mountains of western North Carolina designed as an experiment in ecologically responsible development practices. His published research has included work in the sociology of work, professions, and work organizations; social theory; and the sociology of culture.
Professor Brain teaches courses in urban sociology; the sociology of space and place in contemporary cities and suburbs; sustainable communities; social theory; sociology of culture (including the arts, popular culture, material culture, science and technology); and social organization.
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