Global Migration: Rights and Responsibilities in Challenging Times

PHRCR Department at SIS

Join scholars and practitioners for a timely conference about the impact of migration and displacement on our communities and the world.

American University School of International Service

Migration is one of the defining issues of the 21st century, shaping societies, economies, and political debates across the globe. Global Migration: Rights and Responsibilities in Challenging Times brings together scholars, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to examine the forces driving migration and the responsibilities that come with responding to it.Through panels and roundtable discussions, the conference will explore the links between mass atrocities and displacement, the realities of refugee policies and humanitarian systems, and the ways global forces — from conflict to climate change — shape migration at the local level. Participants will also address current migration challenges in the United States and around the world, highlighting the perspectives of researchers, practitioners, and migrant-serving organizations.By connecting global dynamics with lived experiences, the conference aims to foster informed dialogue and explore more just and effective approaches to migration in an increasingly interconnected world. DisclaimerBy registering for and attending this event on American University’s campus, I agree to comply with all applicable American University policies, protocols, and directives. I understand that if, in the University’s reasonable judgment, my conduct violates University policy or poses a disruption to the event or a risk to the safety or operations of the University community, I may be directed to leave campus and my access to University premises may be limited or revoked at the University’s discretion. I understand that the University does not assume responsibility for any loss, injury, or damage to person or property in connection with participation in the event which results from causes beyond the control of and without fault of the University. If you require any accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact us at phrcr@american.edu at least 10 days in advance, and we will be happy to assist you.

Day 1 Agenda

Rachel Sullivan Robinson,
Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod,
Maria De Jesus 

Opening Remarks

Moderated by Thurka Sangaramoorthy,
Ernesto Castaneda,
Malini Ranganathan, 
Maria De Jesus, 
Tazreena Sajjad 

Migration: The Global-Local Nexus

Dr. Amanda Pinheiro (she/her) is an interdisciplinary scholar of the intersection of transnational migration, race & ethnicity, and policy, with vast experience in teaching and mentorship. Her ethnographic research examines the human cost of migration deterrence policies and practices across the Americas, foregrounding race and ethnicity in migration and border studies as well as in policymaking. She teaches global migration, forced and climate displacement, race and ethnicity in the context of international migration, migration across the Americas, Latin American and Latinx studies, critical refugee studies, critical border studies, community-based research, and ethnographic research. Prior to joining the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Walsh School of Foreign Services, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House. Dr. Pinheiro holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), 

Keynote Address: Race, Borders, and the Politics of Migration in the Americas 

Catered Lunch

Moderated by Mariam Durrani,
Nicholas Micinski,
Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod,
Laila El-Haddad,
Isma'il Kushkush

From Atrocity to Displacement: Migration, Memory, and the Struggle for Justice

Moderated by Maria De Jesus,
Abel Nunez,
Yanitza N. Brignoni,
Anthony Fontes

Migration at a Crossroads: Policy, Communities, and Global Pressures 

Closing Remarks

Day 2 Agenda

The 2026 Graduate Student Working Papers Conference on Global Migration brings together emerging scholars to share innovative, in‑progress research on a broad range of topics including colonial indentureship and its afterlives; LGBTQ displacement; AI, war, and displacement; and immigrant life in DC. The conference provides an interdisciplinary space for feedback, collaboration, and scholarly community-building, highlighting student research and insights on the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of global migration today. 

2026 Graduate Student Working Papers Conference on Global Migration

Welcome Remarks

Neermala Persaud, 
Hiba Irmak Kir,
Danjha Muriel Leon Martinez,
Discussant: Nick Micinski

Panel 1: Challenges and Ethics Contemporary Refugee Policies 

Faith Forman, Jarred Brown, and Baniz Wasman;
Katheryn Olmos and Tabby Ford; Discussant: Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod

Panel  2: Centering Lived Experiences in Migration Studies 

Christopher Belden,
Eleanor Tanabe-Webb,
Anjali Narayanan; Discussant: Mariam Durrani

Panel 3: Legacies of Colonialism and Migration 

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Global Migration: Rights and Responsibilities in Challenging Times

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Global Migration: Rights and Responsibilities in Challenging Times

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