Dr. Christopher Strain
Professor of American Studies
Ph.D., History, University of California at Berkeley, 2000
M.A. in History, University of Georgia, 1995
B.A. in Political & Social Thought, Distinguished Majors Program, University of Virginia, 1993
Professional Experience
Dr. Strain has taught at the FAU Honors College since 2000 as an assistant professor (2000-2006), associate professor (2006-2011), and full professor (2011-present).
My research interests include (but are not limited to) civil rights, hate crime, violence, and the 1960s, and I’ve written books related to each: Pure Fire: Self-Defense as Activism in the Civil Rights Era (UGA Press, 2005), Burning Faith: Church Arson in the American South (University Press of Florida, 2008), Reload: Rethinking Violence in American Life (Vanderbilt University Press, 2010), and The Long Sixties: America, 1955-1973 (Wiley-Blackwell, 2016). But I'm interested in lots of stuff...
I teach general U.S. history survey courses from the colonial period to the present, more specialized courses in particular sub-fields (such as African-American history and U.S. environmental history), and non-history courses in the field of American studies (such as consumerism and the American Dream).
I enjoy exploring what the Florida State Parks call "the Real Florida": the unpaved parts of the Sunshine State characterized by their natural beauty. I also enjoy exploring "Weird Florida": the old roadside attractions and oddities, from Weeki Wachee to Ochopee, that make Florida such an interesting place to live.
Contact: 561-799-8017; HC 103