Case, Andrew

Place is a concept important to several disciplines including psychology. It is the name given to geographical space that is imbued with meaning and significance by those who inhabit it. For instance, cities and neighborhoods are places; they evoke senses of attachment, belonging, and identity among many residents. They also provide access to resources and opportunities such as health care, education, and work, making them crucial for well-being. What are the various means by which place promotes well-being? What roles do culture and social relationships play in forming places and place attachments? What policies and resources can help places better foster well-being? These are questions at the heart of my current research and practice. Specifically, my work focuses on: (a) understanding the relations between “place” and well-being; (b) partnering with communities and organizations to transform place in ways that enhance individual and collective well-being; and (c) optimizing place-based methodologies and approaches including ethnography and community-based participatory research.

Please email to request an application to be a research assistant.