Batul’s parents are immigrants who fled Yemen due to civil war and economic distress. Batul will be conducting research on Yemeni foods, celebratory events, historic architecture, and religion which are practiced by Yemenis in the United States and Yemen. Through intensive research, visual representation, and travel blogs, she aims to compare and contrast these overlapping themes. She wishes to display and pay homage to the richness of the Yemeni culture and cast more light on the Yemeni community which has been silenced and ignored for centuries.
Juan Araujo is a 4th year anthropology major with a focus on studying recreational drugs in society at UC Merced. He loves to DJ, play baseball, and cook! He aspires to be a journalist or a professor in the future. He is from Los Angeles, CA.
Daniel Bui is a graduating senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Global Poverty and Practice. Born in Oakland to two Vietnamese refugees, he has experienced the hardships faced by working-class households, communities of color, and refugees in the area. As a result, many aspects of his life have been shaped by government programs and initiatives, fueling his deep passion for exploring public policy and governance—particularly in areas regarding immigrant adjustment and socioeconomic mobility. Daniel is thrilled to join BIMI this fall semester, where he hopes to conduct in-...
A recent graduate from UC Berkeley, Morelia majored in Political science and a minor in Human Rights. She has been passionate about advocacy and social justice work as a first-generation Latina. She discovered how her other interest in media/communications and social justice can intertwine at the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative as she can uplift new initiatives and brings awareness to issues facing these communities.
Sarin is a fourth year student at UC Santa Barbara, pursuing a major in Political Science with a concentration in Political Theory, and a minor in Translation Studies. Sarin was born in Aleppo, Syria to an Armenian family, and in 2012, Sarin and her family immigrated to the United States, and settled in Pasadena, California. Since then, Sarin has been exploring the implications of her identity and reflecting on her ties to her country of origin, and to the homeland she never got to experience. Being a part of the Armenian and Syrian diaspora, Sarin is interested in conducting...
Yvalisse Ganzon is currently a second-year undergraduate pursuing Sociology with Public Policy and Journalism minors. Working alongside Amani Kim, the two seek to study the nuances of the diasporic experience of Filipino immigrants as they span from deep histories of American colonial occupation, labor exportation, government corruption, and activism. With a special interest in media to tell these stories, Yvalisse hopes to dispel misconceptions about what it means to be a part of the diaspora via analytical works of art, music, and personal storytelling. Deploying skills of cooperative...
BIMI Policy Brief and Communications Graduate Fellow
BIMI Team
Alexandra Gessesse is a doctoral student in the Department of African American & African Diasporic Studies at UC Berkeley. Inspired by her ancestors, elders, and colleagues, her research explores the changing social, political, and racial dynamics of Black immigrants’ identities, their spatialites, and orientations. More broadly, Alexandra’s research interests include urban policy, social movements in the U.S., Black intellectuals, race and inequality, community and neighborhood organizations, and the African Diaspora. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies in Social Policy...
Nilufar Kayhani graduated with her bachelors in public health from UC Berkeley in May 2022. She is the child of Afghan refugees and is committed to resolving health inequities among forcibly displaced communities. Motivated to address the health needs she witnessed growing up, Nilufar decided to pursue a career in public health. During her time at UC Berkeley, she initiated multiple community-based participatory research projects with historically marginalized populations. Nilufar is passionate about health equity and ensuring all communities have access to the resources they need. Outside...
Amani Kim, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, is a dedicated student majoring in Legal Studies with a keen focus on law and culture. Her academic journey has been defined by a passion for understanding the intricate relationship between legal systems and cultural dynamics. At Berkeley, she has engaged in extensive research, primarily centered on migration patterns, particularly in the Philippines. Her work delves into examining the positioning of Filipino immigrant and diasporic communities within the United States, with the objective to delve into and amplify the lived...
Lauren Kim is currently in her third year of studies, majoring in Economics and Global Studies with a concentration in Asia, Peace & Conflict Studies. Her unique upbringing saw her immerse herself in various Korean diaspora communities across Los Angeles, Seoul, and parts of Europe, nurturing a deep-rooted connection with Korean Diaspora communities. An advocate for the heritage of Korean traditional and Korean-American cultures, Lauren channels her passion into in-depth explorations of the history of Korean communities in the US, particularly the vibrant enclave of Koreatown in Los...