Barry Lee

Research and Teaching Interests

Professor Lee is an urban sociologist and social demographer whose research addresses racial/ethnic and other forms of inequality. His current work focuses on residential segregation, neighborhood change, community diversity, local social ties, and spatial aspects of wealth and affluence. He also has a career-long interest in homelessness, devoting recent analyses to geographic dimensions of the phenomenon and to variations in health and work experiences among homeless people.

Professional Awards and Achievements

• Distinction in the Social Sciences Award, Penn State University (2009)
• Sociological Research Association (elected 2003)
• Executive Committee, Eastern Sociological Society (2003-2006)
• Chair, Community and Urban Sociology Section, American Sociological Association (2002-04)
• Advisory Committee of Professional Associations, U.S. Census Bureau (1999-2005)
• Editorial Boards: City & Community (2009-present), Contexts (2003-05), American Sociological Review (1999-2001, 1988-90), Sociological Quarterly (1991-93), Social Science Quarterly (1984-2003)
• Grants: National Science Foundation (2005-08, Investigator), Brookings Institution (2002-04, PI), National Science Foundation (1993-99, co-PI), American Sociological Association/MOST (1994-96, PI), National Science Foundation (1987-90, PI), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1985-86, PI)

Selected Publications

• Lee, Barrett A., Kimberly A. Tyler, and James D. Wright. 2010. “The New Homelessness Revisited.” Annual Review of Sociology 36: 501-521.
• Hall, Matthew S. and Barrett A. Lee. 2010. “How Diverse are U.S. Suburbs?” Urban Studies 47: 3-28.
• Lee, Barrett A., Sean F. Reardon, Glenn Firebaugh, Chad R. Farrell, Stephen A. Matthews, and David O’Sullivan. 2008. “Beyond the Census Tract: Patterns and Determinants of Racial Residential Segregation at Multiple Geographic Scales.” American Sociological Review 73:766-791.
• Reardon, Sean F., Stephen A. Matthews, David O’Sullivan, Barrett A. Lee, Glenn Firebaugh, Chad R. Farrell, and Kendra Bischoff. 2008. “The Geographical Scale of Metropolitan Racial Segregation.” Demography 45:489-514.
• Lee, Barrett A. and Meredith J. Greif. 2008. “Homelessness and Hunger.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 49:3-19.
• Lee, Barrett A. and Matthew Marlay. 2007. “The Right Side of the Tracks: Affluent Neighborhoods in the Metropolitan United States.” Social Science Quarterly 88:766-789.
• Lee, Barrett A., Chad R. Farrell, and Bruce G. Link. 2004. “Revisiting the Contact Hypothesis: The Case of Public Exposure to Homelessness.”American Sociological Review 68:40-63.
• Lee, Barrett A. and Chad R. Farrell. 2003. "Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime? Homelessness, Panhandling, and the Public.” Urban Affairs Review 39:299-324.
• Lee, Barrett A. 2001. “Taking Neighborhoods Seriously.” Pp. 31-40 in A. Booth and A.C. Crouter (eds.), Does It Take a Village? Community Effects on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
• Lee, Barrett A. and Karen E. Campbell. 1999. “Neighborhood Networks of Black and White Americans.” Pp. 119-146 in B. Wellman (ed.),Networks in the Global Village: Life in Contemporary Communities. Boulder, CO: Westview.
• Lee, Barrett A. and Karen E. Campbell. 1997. “Common Ground? Urban Neighborhoods as Survey Respondents See Them.” Social Science Quarterly 78:922-936.
• Lee, Barrett A., R.S. Oropesa, and James C. Kanan. 1994. “Neighborhood Context and Residential Mobility.” Demography 31:249-270.
• Campbell, Karen E. and Barrett A. Lee. 1992. “Sources of Personal Neighbor Networks: Social Integration, Need, or Time?” Social Forces70:1077-1100.
• Lee, Barrett A., Sue Hinze Jones, and David Lewis. 1990. “Public Beliefs About the Causes of Homelessness.” Social Forces 69:253-265.
• Lee, Barrett A. 1989. “Stability and Change in an Urban Homeless Population.” Demography 26:323-334.
• Lee, Barrett A. 1988. “Urban Sociology.” Pp. 200-223 in E.F. Borgatta and K.S. Cook (eds.), The Future of Sociology. Beverly Hills: Sage.
• Lee, Barrett A., Daphne Spain, and Debra J. Umberson. 1985. “Neighborhood Revitalization and Racial Change: The Case of Washington, DC.” Demography 22:581-602.
• Lee, Barrett A., R.S. Oropesa, Barbara J. Metch, and Avery M. Guest. 1984. “Testing the Decline-of-Community Thesis: Neighborhood Organizations in Seattle, 1929 and 1979.” American Journal of Sociology 89:1161-1188.
• Guest, Avery M. Barrett A. Lee, and Lynn Staeheli. 1982. “Changing Locality Identification in the Metropolis: Seattle, 1920-1978.” American Sociological Review 47:543-549.