2024-2025 IIR Colloquia

A Conversation with International Collegiate Student-Athletes
September 30, 2024

Moderator: Dr. Marissa Kiss, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University

Panelists: Kevin Kalonji, University of Maryland; Gréta Klaudia Kühne, University of Idaho; and Stefan Copetti, University of Maryland

To read a summary of the event, click here. For more information about the event, click here.

 

Fall for the Book: New American Voices Award
October 17, 2024

Moderator: Dr. Jim Witte, Director of the Institute for Immigration Research

Finalists: Shahnaz Habib, Carrie Sun, and Alex Espinoza

Judges: Myriam J. A. Chancy, V. V. Ganeshananthan, and Karin Tanabe

 

 

 

 

 

 

To read more about New American Voices Award, click here.

To read about the winner of the New American Voices Award, click here.

 

A Conversation with the Villalobos Brothers

October 22, 2024

Moderators: Dr. Rick Davis, Dean of College of Visual and Performing Arts and Dr. Jim Witte, Director of the Institute of Immigration Research

Panelists: Ernesto, Alberto and Luis Villalobos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information about this event is available here.

 

Ray Suarez Book Talk: We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century

November 12, 2024 

Ray Suarez is the host of the public radio program and podcast On Shifting Ground, produced by Commonwealth Club-World Affairs and KQED-FM. His latest book, on the modern era of American immigration, We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century, was published in April 2024 by Little, Brown. He is also the author of Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation (Penguin, 2013), The Holy Vote: The Politics of Faith in America (Harper, 2005), and The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration (Free Press, 1999).

Ray joined faculty, students, researchers, and the community to discuss his new book, We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century, as he tells the stories of modern immigrants to the United States and the demographic and cultural change they are bringing to the country. It was published in April 2024 by Little, Brown.

To watch a recording of the event, click here. For more information about the event, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randa Yassir: From Supporting Displaced People to Becoming One

January 29, 2025

Randa Yassir is a highly accomplished international expert with over 25 years of experience driving positive social change. Her expertise spans strategic planning, human development, and advocacy, with a deep focus on gender equity, human rights, and democratic principles. Throughout her career, Ms. Yassir has consistently championed the empowerment of women and youth, serving in key roles such as M&E Manager for a World Bank-funded education project and advisor to the Lebanese Minister of State for Women Affairs. As the founder of SMART Center, a civil society organization, she spearheaded innovative projects that empowered women and youth through political and economic empowerment initiatives. Ms. Yassir's commitment to social justice extends beyond her professional roles, as she actively utilizes her expertise in media to challenge gender stereotypes and advocate for a more equitable and inclusive society. 

During the colloquia, Ms. Yassir highlighted the experiences of women, including herself, who was forced to flee her homeland and the personal and professional challenges faced, including the emotional toll of displacement and the ongoing struggle to balance motherhood with advocacy work. Additionally, Ms. Yassir discussed the critical role of women's solidarity and collective action in building resiliency and fostering peace in conflict-ridden societies, as well as the importance of empowering young women to become agents of change. 

To read a summary of the event, click here. To watch a recording of the event, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Webinar: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Vietnamese Boat People

February 11, 2025

Between 1975 to 1992, almost two million Vietnamese risked their lives to flee oppression and hardship after the Vietnam War. Escaping by boat, while many were captured or did not survive the journey, many found freedom in other countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, while others were resettled in the United States, Canada, Italy, Australia, France, or the United Kingdom in refugee camps. This population of people are known as the ‘Vietnamese Boat People'.

The IIR welcomed speakers for the online portion of this event. The first panel explored the history of refugees in the United States. The panelists included: Ann Ngoc Tran, PhD Candidate in the Department of American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California; Dr. Jana Lipman, Professor of History at Tulane University; Dr. Yến Lê Espiritu, Professor of Ethnic Studies at University of California, San Diego; and moderator, Dr. Jim Witte, Director of the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University

The second panel examined the current state of refugees around the world and in the United States. The panelists included: Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University; Dr. Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration; Dr. Yasemin Ipek, Assistant Professor in Global Affairs at George Mason University; and moderator, Dr. Michele Waslin, Assistant Director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota.

To read a summary of the event, click here. For more information about the event, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening Event: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Vietnamese Boat People Event 

April 28, 2025

On Monday, April 28, 2025, the IIR welcomed speakers who shared their own personal and family stories. The event included a discussion of the Vietnamese Boat People resettlement experience, a viewing of the Closing the Gap documentary, a conversation on the current state of refugees around the world and in the United States, and an art and book display. 

The speakers included:

  • Hanh Bui, Teacher, Author, and George Mason University Alum
  • Tori Huynh, Teacher and PROUD President of the Fairfax County Public Schools Asian Educators Association & Asian Leadership Alliance Scholarship Foundation
  • Steven Luu, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Artist, and Current MFA student at George Mason University School of Art
  • Dr. Connie Park, Director of Make Us Visible Virginia and AAPI Education Director for the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia
  • Len Tran, Chemical Engineer, Author, and Founder of Kinetic Mind, LLC.
  • Dr. Oguzhan Dursun, Historian and IIR Visiting Scholar, 
  • Matt Brown, Expert in International Development and Roles for Higher Education in Resettlement
  • Moderator: Dr. Jim Witte, Director of the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University

To read a summary of the event, click here. For more information about the event, click here.