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The Immigrant Stories Project integrates quantitative data with in-depth interviews with immigrants living in the United States to highlight the lived experiences behind the numbers. This mixed methods approach provides both a comprehensive picture of the realities faced by immigrants and a broader view of immigrants’ vital economic and societal contributions to the communities’ in which they work and live and to United States as a whole. This year, the IIR focused on immigrant entrepreneurs and leaders in three regions: Boston, Massachusetts, Aurora, Colorado, and Washington D.C.

Dr. Kellie S. Wilkerson is a Public and Applied Sociologist who earned her bachelor's degree in Applied Sociology from The University of Tampa, her master’s degree in Public Sociology from Cal Poly Humboldt, and her doctoral degree in Sociology from George Mason University.

Christophe Vitello is a George Mason University undergraduate student who worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) in the 2025-2026 academic year. With academic interests in cultural anthropology, folklore, and visual storytelling, Chris joined IIR through George Mason’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) program, contributing to the Leaving and Belonging Digital Storytelling project.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the IIR launched Leaving and Belonging, a digital storytelling initiative developed as part of its arts, culture, and storytelling initiative. This project complements the IIR’s broader mission to generate and amplify relevant research on immigrants and immigration to the United States by pairing research on migration with community engagement, using storytelling to amplify personal narratives and highlight lived experiences. 

Elyse Adams is the full-time Program Coordinator for the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) and an adjunct faculty of Bio-archaeology at the University of Mary Washington. Elyse’s academic background starts with a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in bio-archaeology from George Mason University. Prior to joining the IIR, she worked in historic architecture and museums as well as conducted field schools at the Stafford Civil War Pite in Stafford County, Virginia.

IIR Graduate Research Assistant, Aditi Goel, receives the Wendy Balazik Communication and Social Change Award at the GMU Communications Department Grad Awards and Graduation Celebration on May 12th, 2026.