Darien Alexander Williams

Darien Alexander Williams is an Assistant Professor in the Macro Practice Department at Boston University’s School of Social Work and affiliated faculty with the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). His work bridges urban planning history, climate justice, and abolitionist frameworks. Williams holds a PhD in Urban Planning from MIT, an MCRP in City & Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Florida.

His research focuses on Black and Muslim counter-institutional responses to urban segregation and disaster recovery, particularly in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and the Gulf Coast. He employs archival research, participatory action methods, and spatial analysis to explore topics like hurricane recovery, environmental racism, and carceral systems’ roles in disaster vulnerability. Current projects include climate justice work in Jacksonville, Florida, and Gulf Coast incarceration dynamics.

Williams’ articles address themes ranging from Black urban planning traditions to gas infrastructure safety, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. His grant-supported collaborations emphasize community-driven solutions and challenge mainstream disaster management paradigms. He previously contributed to long-term recovery planning in Eastern North Carolina post-Hurricane Matthew.