Chris Coutts

Biography

Chris Coutts, Ph.D., earned his doctorate in Urban, Technological, & Environmental Planning from the University of Michigan in 2006. Dr. Coutts is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University (FSU). He is also a faculty member of the Master of Public Health program and a Research Affiliate with the Center for Demography and Population Health at FSU. Dr. Coutts’s research examines the influence of ecologically-sensitive land use practices on community health and health behavior. The thrust of his ecological planning research explores how the natural environment supports the ecosystem services essential to human health and well-being. This research was inspired by his time as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. In 2019, he returned to Malawi as a US Fulbright Scholar to teach at Mzuzu University and perform research on the critical role of nature conservation on healthy sustainable development in the remote Misuku Hills. His work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, US News and World Report, Forbes, and The Atlantic.

• Professor, Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Florida State University (FSU)
• Research Affiliate, Center for Demography and Population Health, FSU
• Fulbright Scholar, 2019, Supporting the Critical Role of Nature Conservation in the Healthy Sustainable Development of Malawi
• PhD Mentor, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar
• Honors Teaching Scholar, Green Global Health course, Honors Program, FSU

Education

PhD, Urban, Technological, & Environmental Planning
University of Michigan, 2006

MPH, Health Behavior and Education
New Mexico State University, 2003

BCH, Community Health Education, Honors Distinction
Minor: Chemistry
New Mexico State University, 1997

U.S. Peace Corps
HIV/AIDS Educator, Malawi, Africa, 1998-2000

YFU Student Exchange, Australia, 1990

Courses Taught

Public Health Honors Work (ISS4907)

Preliminary Examination Preparation (URP8960)

Environmental Planning (Mzuzu University) (BLMP3601)

Public Health Epidemiology (URP5521)

Deviant Pedestrianism-DIS (URP5905)

Green Infrastructure and Health-DIS (URP5905)

Special Topics in Urban and Regional Planning (URP5939)

Gentrification and Health-DIS (URP5905)

Health Behavior and Education (URP 5525)

Methods of Environmental Analysis (URP5425)

Population and Emergency Management-DIS (URP5905)

Special Topics in Urban and Regional Planning (URP4936)

Climate and Public Health Interventions-DIS (URP5905)

Geospatial Technology in Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria-DIS

(URP5905) Introduction to Planning and Urban Development (URP3000)

Local Food Systems Planning-DIS (URP5905)

The Use of Fuel-efficient Cookstoves: Can they make a difference in Nicaragua?-DIS (URP5905)

World Cities: Quality of Life (URS1006)

Urban & Regional Information Systems (URP5272)

Nature Conservation in Coastal Communities-DIS (URP5905)

Private Industry Environmental Management Systems-DIS (URP5905)

Marine Spatial Planning-DIS (URP5905)

Greenways and Childrens’ Physical Activity-DIS (URP5905)

Directed Individual Study (DEM5906)

Special Topics in Environmental Planning and Resource Management (URP5429)

Special Topics in Social Science (ISS5930)

Awards & Honors

Graduate Faculty Mentor Award nomination, Florida State University (2020).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2020).

US Fulbright Scholar, US Department of State (2019).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2018).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2017).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2016).

Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination, New Mexico State University (2012).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2012).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2011).

Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination, New Mexico State University (2010).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2010).

Graduate Teaching Award Nomination, Florida State University (2009).

Distinguished Peer Reviewer, National Environmental Health Association (2008).

First Year Assistant Professor grant best poster award, Florida State University (2008).

Professional Experience

2020–present      Honors Teaching Scholar, Honors Program, Florida State University.

2019–present      Professor, Urban & Regional Planning, Florida State University.

2017–present      Research Affiliate, Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University.

2013–2019      Associate Professor, Urban & Regional Planning, Florida State University.

2006–2017      Research Associate, Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University.

2007–2013      Assistant Professor, Urban & Regional Planning, Florida State University.

Selected Publications

Williams, P. C., Krafty, R., Alhasan, D., Coutts, C. J., Miles-Richardson, S., & Jackson, C. L. (submitted). A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand the Impact of Greenspace Redevelopment on the Objectively- and Subjectively-Measured Sleep Health of Black adults in Southwest Atlanta. American Journal of Public Health. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Williams, P., Jackson, A., & Coutts, C. J. (submitted). Displacement Risk Index: A GIS-Based Assessment of Residential Displacement in Atlanta. Housing Policy Debate. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Shen, R., Coutts, C., Feiock, R., & Williams, P. (submitted). Identifying the health benefits of city bike infrastructure expansion in the 500 largest cities in the US. Cities & Health. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Miller, S., & Coutts, C. J. (submitted). Reducing coronavirus spread through social distancing: How home and neighborhood environmental disparities can exacerbate persistent health risks. Environmental Justice. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Williams, P., Krafty, R., Alexander, T., Davis, Z., Gregory, Akil-Vuai, Proby, R., Troxel, W., & Coutts, C. J. (2021). Greenspace redevelopment, pressure of displacement, and sleep quality among Black adults in Southwest Atlanta. Journal Of Exposure Science And Environmental Epidemiology.

Coutts, C., Wenger, R., & Duncan, M. (2019). Exploratory analysis of deviant pedestrianism: Deviant paths as cues for designing pedestrian infrastructure. Urban Planning and Development.

Coutts, C. J., Holmes, T., & Jackson, A. (2019). Forestry policy, conservation activities, and ecosystem services in the remote Misuku Hills of Malawi. Forests.

Miller, S., & Coutts, C. (2018). A multiple case study of local & creative financing of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 6(2), 257-264.

Taylor, C., & Coutts, C. (2018). Greenways as safe routes to school in a Latino community in East Los Angeles. Cities & Health.

Coutts, C., Basmajian, C., Sehee, J., Kelty, S., & Williams, P. (2018). Natural burial as a land conservation tool in the US. Landscape and Urban Planning, 178, 130-143.

Jennings, V., Floyd, M., Shanahan, D., Coutts, C., & Sinykin, A. (2017). Emerging issues in urban ecology: Implications for research, social justice, and human health and well-being. Population and Environment, 39(1), 69-86.

Chapin, T., & Coutts, C. (2017). Go-Gos, Slow-Gos, and No-Gos: The location of elderly populations in Florida in 2000 and 2010. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 34(1), 49-70.

Kim, A., Coutts, C., Newman, J., Brandon-Lai, S., & Kim, M. (2016). Social geographies at play: Mapping the spatial politics of community-based youth sport participation. Journal of Amateur Sport, 2(1), 39-72.

Bae, S., Kwon, S., Coutts, C., Park, S., & Feiock, R. (2015). Development impact fees: A vehicle or restraint for land development? Journal of Local Self-Government, 13(4), 1047-1065.

Coutts, C., & Hahn, M. (2015). Green infrastructure, ecosystem services, and human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(8), 9768-9798.

Park, S., Coutts, C., & Lee, S. (2014). The inclusion of health in county comprehensive planning. The Korean Journal of Policy Studies, 29(1), 1-20.

Coutts, C., Forkink, A., & Weiner, J. (2014). The portrayal of natural environment in the evolution of the ecological public health paradigm. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(1), 1005-1019.

Coutts, C., Chapin, T., & Horner, M. (2013). The county-level effects of green space access on physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 10(2), 232-240.

Coutts, C., & Berke, T. (2013). The extent and context of human health considerations in London’s spatial development and climate action strategy. Urban Planning and Development, 139(4), 322-330.

Coutts, C. (2012). Creating connected open space in Florida: The influence on human use for recreation. Managing Leisure, 17(1), 67-74.

Miles, R., Coutts, C., & Mohamadi, A. (2012). Neighborhood urban form, social environment, and depression. Journal of Urban Health, 89(1), 1-18.

Coutts, C., & Miles, R. (2011). Greenways as green magnets: The relationship between the race of greenway users and race in proximal neighborhoods. Journal of Leisure Research, 43(3), 317-333.

Coutts, C., Basmajian, C., & Chapin, T. (2011). Projecting landscapes of death. Landscape and Urban Planning, 102(4), 254-261.

Coutts, C., & Taylor, C. (2011). Putting the capital “E” environment into ecological models of health. Journal of Environmental Health, 74(4), 26-29.

Coutts, C. (2010). Green infrastructure and public health in the Florida Communities Trust land acquisition program. Planning Practice and Research, 25(4), 439-459.

Basmajian, C., & Coutts, C. (2010). Planning for the disposal of the dead. Journal of the American Planning Association, 76(3), 305-317.

Coutts, C. (2010). Public health ecology. Journal of Environmental Health, 72(6), 53-55.

Coutts, C. (2009). Locational influence of land use type on the distribution of uses along urban river greenways. Urban Planning and Development, 135(1), 31-38.

Coutts, C. (2008). Greenway accessibility and physical activity behavior. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 35(3), 552-563.

Alaimo, K., Bassett, E., Wilkerson, R., Petersmarck, K., Mosack, J., Mendez, D., Coutts, C., Grost, L., & Stegmier, L. (2008). The promoting active communities award: Development of Michigan’s self-assessment tool. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5(1), 4-18.