Headlines

New research shows immigration and a diverse population propelled America’s rise as a superpower in innovation.

Author Rachel Heng has won the sixth annual Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Award for her novel The Great Reclamation. She accepted the award at a ceremony at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts during the 25th annual Fall for the Book festival.

The Spring 2024 cohort of Next System Fellows is now open for applications, offering a unique path to realizing your ambitions. Creating a new world system is our ultimate goal and the focus of our research.

September marks the second anniversary since Afghan refugees started arriving in the D.C. area. George Mason University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the School of Business recently announced the launch of the RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship) Program as the first phase of the center’s SOAR Initiative this fall.

Laurie Schintler, Associate Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, is set to receive funding from the National Science Foundation for the project: "Perceptions of Efficiency and Bias in Peer Review: Algorithmic versus Human Decision Making." This project is a collaboration between the Schar School of Policy and Government (GMU) and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (CHSS-GMU). The investigators on the team include: PI Laurie A. Schintler; Co-PI Connie L. McNeely, Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government; and Co-PI James Witte, Professor, Sociology, Sociology and Anthropology; Director, Institute for Immigration Research.

James C. Witte, Professor, Sociology, Director, Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), and Michelle S. Dromgold-Sermen, Assistant Director, IIR, received funding for: "Refugee Resettlement and STEM Education." This conference will focus on how STEM-oriented educational opportunities through high schools, registered apprenticeships, community college, and four-year institutions can all play a significant role in addressing urgent humanitarian needs, while also expanding the nation’s STEM workforce.

Portnoy’s work with and support of Mason’s Institute for Immigration Research is an extension of her commitment through The Immigration Learning Center to help more Americans understand the true picture of what immigrants and immigration means for our country.

The Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) will now have more resources to produce scholarly research about the impact of immigrants on the United States, thanks to a generous donation from Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA '94.

The Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) is excited to welcome Michelle Dromgold-Sermen. Michelle joined the IIR as Assistant Director in February 2023. In this role, she will support the institute's administration, visioning, mentoring of students, and research.

James C. Witte, Professor, Sociology; Director, Institute for Immigration Research, received funding from Americorps for the project: "Immigrants, Athletes, and Civic Engagement." Witte is collaborating with Marissa Kiss, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Immigration Research, on this project. Witte and Kiss will examine the degree to which immigrant athletes use their visibility, acceptance, and influence to extend the spirit of inclusiveness and equity to all New Americans.