The 2020 APPAM Fall Research Conference in November will be held under the auspices of the theme: Research across the Policy Lifecycle – Formulation, Implementation, Evaluation and Back Again (read our interview with APPAM President-Elect and Chair of the Program Committee, Dr. Sherry Glied of NYU on more about the theme). Since we're still few months away, APPAM wants to introduce you to members of the Program Committee. For the next few weeks, every Monday we'll give you a quick peek into one of the Chairs of the Program Committee with short but informative interviews.
Today, we're excited to introduce you to Dr. Juan Pedroza, one of the two Co-Chairs of the Population and Migration Issues Policy Area. Dr. Pedroza is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California Santa Cruz.
What’s it like being on the program committee?
I have learned a great deal from working with colleagues on the program committee. It has been rewarding to review proposed panels, papers, posters, and roundtables from a wide range of scholars and research teams. Reading proposals across an array of methods, data sources, contexts, and policies has reinforced my evolving grasp of migration and population research.
Why did you join APPAM?
I joined APPAM because of its strong interdisciplinary track record; connections to a phenomenal network of scholars; and opportunities to push the boundaries of policy-relevant migration and population research. I first attended APPAM’s Fall conference in the late 2000s while living in DC and working at the Urban Institute. Ever since, I can count on APPAM as a resource for learning about cutting-edge research and time reconnect with colleagues, collaborators, and friends. I am especially interested in APPAM’s commitment to equity and inclusion; which advances our collective mission of excellence in research, analysis, and education.
How did you choose your research area?
I am a social demographer and scholar of immigration because of my passion for understanding where immigrant families thrive in the US. Ever since migrating from Mexico at age 8, I have been fascinated with the lengths we will go to in order to make the best of our adoptive country — and the stubborn roadblocks (new and old; individual and institutional) that can get in the way of maximizing our shared potential.