Dr. E. Christian Wells is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Brownfields Research & Redevelopment at the University of South Florida, where he served previously as the Founding Director of the Office of Sustainability and as Deputy Director of the School of Global Sustainability. He is Past President of the Florida Brownfields Association and currently an Interdisciplinary Research Leader with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Wells is an applied environmental anthropologist whose research aims to improve human and environmental health outcomes of re/development efforts in underserved communities. Over the past 20 years, he has undertaken social and environmental science research throughout the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean with over $25 million in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and other organizations. His research has been featured by various media outlets including The New York Times and New Scientist. He has written or edited 10 books or journal issues and more than 150 scientific articles and essays. Dr. Wells is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research, teaching, and service have been recognized by the 2025 Comitas Award for Social Innovation and Public Engagement from the Society for Applied Anthropology, the 2024 Community Advocate Award from the University Area Community Development Corporation, the 2023 Wesley W. Horner Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the 2023 Environmental Justice Spirit of Excellence Award from the Florida Brownfields Association, and the 2011 Black Bear Award from the Sierra Club in recognition of outstanding dedication to sustainability and the environment. His teaching at USF has been recognized with the 2024 Kosove Distinguished Graduate Teaching and Service Award, the 2018 Outstanding Community-Engaged Teaching Award, and the 2011 Jerome Krivanek Distinguished Teacher Award, among other honors.