Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University

[Center webpage]

B.A. (History of Science) Harvard University , 1977. M.R.P. (City and Regional Planning) Cornell University , 1983. Ph.D. (Development Sociology) Cornell University , 1988.

Professor Miles’ research interests range from empowerment processes for women and low-income communities, to the health consequences of substandard housing and poor quality housing environments, to neighborhoods and their social and built environments, and links to physical activity and quality-of-life. She has served abroad in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, and Mali with various international organizations. Her teaching is in areas of research methods, planning for developing areas, population and economic forecasting, and population health and development.

Miles, Rebecca & Song, Yan. in press. “‘Good’ Neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon: Focus on both social and physical environments”. Journal of Urban Affairs

Miles, Rebecca. 2008. “Neighborhood Disorder, Perceived Safety and Readiness to Encourage Use of Local Playgrounds”. American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), Special Issue on Active Living Environmental and Policy Research, 34(4), pp.275-281.

Miles, Rebecca & Jacobs, David E. 2008. “Future Directions in Housing and Public Health: Findings From Europe With Broader Implications for Planners”. Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) Special Issue on Housing, 74(1), pp.77-89.

Miles, Rebecca, Panton, Lynn, Jang, Myungjun, and Haymes, Emily. 2008. “Residential context, walking and obesity: two African-American neighborhoods compared”. Health & Place 14(2), pp.272-286. Available

Miles, Rebecca. 2006. “Neighborhood Disorder and Smoking: Findings of a European Survey”. Social Science and Medicine 63(9), pp. 2464-2475

Miles, Rebecca. 2005. “Preventing asthma through housing interventions: How supportive is the US policy environment?” Housing Studies 20(4), pp.589-603

Miles, Rebecca. 2002. “Employment and Unemployment in Jordan: The Importance of the Gender System”. World Development 30(3), pp.413-42