The Fellowship is an intensive four-month program that brings together SUNY and CUNY graduate students to research the economic, social, and civic integration of immigrants
The Fellows will target their work on researching and identifying success models of engineering an inclusive society with a focus on the social integration of immigrants
Albany, NY – The Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy (IIIRP) today announced the appointment of five graduate students to its 2025 Fellowship on Immigrant Integration. This prestigious fellowship will enable the fellows to advance understanding of and develop innovative approaches to immigrant integration, supporting the IIIRP’s mission to improve outcomes for foreign-born residents of New York State and beyond.
The four-month fellowship engages graduate students from SUNY and CUNY in research designed to enhance the economic, social, and civic integration of immigrants. This year’s fellows will focus on identifying successful models for fostering inclusive societies, with an emphasis on social integration and equitable opportunities for immigrant communities.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “At SUNY, we are committed to creating a vibrant community for people of all backgrounds regardless of their place of birth. Congratulations to the SUNY students selected for this year’s Fellowship on Immigration Integration. The important research these students will conduct will leverage their passions and expertise to further support immigrant communities helping to make this nation a better place for all.”
“This fellowship program does an excellent job engaging emerging scholars in critical issues surrounding immigrant integration,” said Bob Megna, president of the Rockefeller Institute. “We are excited for these new fellows as they seek to broaden our understanding of how to improve integration outcomes for foreign-born New Yorkers in a time of great uncertainty for immigrants and immigration.”
“We are thrilled to welcome five emerging scholars to this transformative fellowship,” said Dina Refki, executive director of the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy. “The work of the 2025 Fellowship will center on researching and identifying successful models of engineering an inclusive society with a focus on the social integration of immigrants.”
“We congratulate Ken Irish-Bramble and David Monda of the CUNY Graduate Center on winning this prestigious fellowship. It will help them gain a better understanding of how immigrants can be more equitably integrated into their communities, thereby improving the lives of individuals and fostering a more inclusive society. Today this work is more vital than ever, and it aligns with our mission at CUNY, which has been long known as a place that transforms the lives of immigrant and first-generation families,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.
“I am so proud that two University at Albany students have been selected for this impactful fellowship. UAlbany is committed to conducting top-tier research and scholarship that benefits the public good and the work these fellows are doing exemplifies that goal. Jeong Taek and Adriana R. Mintarsih are shining examples of the engaged global citizens we are educating at UAlbany,” said Havidán Rodríguez, president of the University at Albany.
“We applaud the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy for launching this timely and vital fellowship,” said Joshua C. Brumberg, president of the CUNY Graduate Center. “As New York City’s only research-intensive public graduate school, we are dedicated to fostering research that makes a meaningful impact on society. We are delighted that our students Ken Irish-Bramble and David Monda are inaugural fellows and are confident that their findings will enrich the conversation around immigration and inspire innovative responses to this critical issue.”
According to Isaac Ehrlich, member of the Institute’s Board of Advisors and SUNY distinguished professor of economics and finance at the University at Buffalo, “The integration of immigrants is one of the most vital pathways to fostering human capital development and sustaining social and economic growth. By cultivating inclusive institutions and policies, we not only unlock the potential of individuals but also strengthen the foundations of trust, cohesion, and innovation in our communities. The 2025 Fellows on Immigrant Integration represent a bold commitment to advancing these principles and addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”
2025 Fellows on Immigrant Integration are:
- Jeong Taek: PhD student in sociology at the University at Albany, focusing on corporate dynamics influencing immigrant settlement in new destinations.
- Shiyue Cui: PhD candidate in sociology at the University at Buffalo, researching refugee resettlement and integration using both qualitative and quantitative methods, with broader work on immigrant mobility.
- Ken Irish-Bramble: first-year MA student at CUNY Graduate Center, exploring migrant political behavior, including voting patterns among naturalized citizens and transnational political engagement.
- David Monda: doctoral candidate in political science at CUNY Graduate Center, investigating the impact of xenophobia on African migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Adriana R. Mintarsih: Fulbright Scholar and PhD candidate in sociology at the University at Albany, studying the agency and emotional experiences of Indonesian young adults whose parents migrate for informal work.
The fellows’ research will contribute to IIIRP’s ongoing efforts to identify and share best practices, stimulate responsive policies, reduce the costs of integration efforts, and improve the quality of outcomes for foreign-born residents.
More information about the fellows and their work is available on the 2025 Fellowship on Immigrant Integration webpage.
Questions about the fellowship can be directed to IIIRP Deputy Director & Intergovernmental Liaison Guillermo Martinez at [email protected].
About the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
The Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy seeks to advance the economic, social, and political integration of foreign-born New Yorkers and to promote responsive policies and practices.