Public engagement is fundamental to my scholarship. I strongly believe in the potential for research to improve policy and better the lives of those impacted by it. To that end, I work to bridge the gap between the academy, government, and community.
Examples of Engaged Research
Local Immigrant Empowerment
With Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based organization, I interviewed immigrants, policymakers, and advocates in San Francisco to produce a report on the causes and effects of a law that allows noncitizen immigrants to vote in local schoolboard elections in San Francisco. The report can be found here.
In 2024, our team won a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to extend this research. We are currently working on publishing academic papers and policy briefs, as well as creating a series of informational videos from this research.
Supporting Naturalization
With Cities and Counties for Citizenship, I consulted on a report highlighted how cities can support naturalization. I surveyed their member cities, and used the data to understand the range of policies and best practices. The report can be found here.
In addition, I partnered with the City and County of San Francisco to examine the impact of their Pathways to Citizenship program. That work informed an academic publication and an internal policy brief for the City.
