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

Christopher Strain is Professor of American Studies at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University. A historian by training, Dr. Strain specializes in recent U.S. history and African American studies. His research interests include civil rights, hate crime, violence, and the 1960s.

He is the author of four books: Pure Fire: Self-Defense as Activism in the Civil Rights Era (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2005); Burning Faith: Church Arson in the American South (Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 2008); Reload: Rethinking Violence in American Life (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2010); and The Long Sixties: America, 1955-1973 (New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016). In addition to his books, he has published work in several edited volumes and journals, including The American Historical Review, The Journal of American History, The Journal of Southern History, The Journal of African American History, The Journal of Civil and Human Rights, The Journal of Hate Studies, The Florida Historical Quarterly, and The Journal of Florida Studies. He has presented papers at numerous regional, national, and international conferences, including one at Centre de Recherches sur l’Histoire des Etats-Unis (CRHEU) at the University of Paris. In both 2006 and 2011 he was named Researcher of the Year at FAU.

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.

Christopher Strain’s Website

Curriculum Vitae (Available upon request)

Courses

Undergraduate Courses

• U.S. History to 1877
• U.S. History from 1877
• African American History
• American Environmental History
• Special Topics in U.S. History: The 1960s
• Colloquium in American Studies: The American Dream
• Special Topics in American Studies: Violence in American Life
• Freshman Seminar in U.S. History: The Civil Rights Movement
• Historiography: Methods & Theory