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Institute for Immigration Research featured in press release about interactive digital timeline that explores how immigration has shaped the United States from its earliest years through today.

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.

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.

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.