Michael Glass

Michael Glass is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Director of the Urban Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh's Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. His interdisciplinary work bridges geography, sociology, and regional studies, focusing on infrastructure and urban governance across Southeast Asia, North America, Australasia, and Europe.

His academic background includes:

• PhD from Pennsylvania State University
• MSc. (Honors) from the University of Auckland

Dr. Glass investigates how water infrastructure reveals metropolitan region structures and transformations, with emphasis on aging systems' impact on regional planning scales. His research spans socio-spatial production of infrastructure, positionality in fieldwork, comparative global urbanism, and urban regeneration policies. He examines how infrastructural assets can promote urban, economic, and ecological sustainability through regional policies.

His publication trajectory shows a pronounced shift toward infrastructural regionalism since 2020, connecting water governance with urban resilience and equity. The work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary integration across geography, sociology, and planning, with increasing focus on temporal dimensions and global comparative frameworks in infrastructure studies.

His notable recognitions include:

• 2022-23 Global Studies Fellowship
• 2022 Pennsylvania Geography Society Distinguished Geographer
• 2021 Humanities Center Co-Teaching Fellowship
• 2015 Tina and David Bellet Award for Teaching Excellence
• University Honors College Faculty Fellow

As Urban Studies Program Director, Dr. Glass advises undergraduate students and leads curriculum development for courses including Introduction to Urban Studies and Regional Growth Strategies in Appalachia. His research is supported by fellowships including the Global Studies Fellowship and Humanities Center Co-Teaching Fellowship, which fund investigations into inclusive innovation and regional resilience through the Network on Infrastructural Regionalism (NOIR).

He founded and leads the Network on Infrastructural Regionalism (NOIR), a collaborative research initiative examining infrastructure's role in shaping regions and influencing equity, particularly through water systems governance and planning frameworks.