We are excited to introduce the talented and diverse group of students in the Graduate Certificate in Migration Studies!
This cohort, coming from six different UBC departments, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for migration-related issues, with interests spanning transnationalism, diaspora politics, migration policy, human rights, and the economic dimensions of displacement.
The Graduate Certificate in Migration Studies is an academic credit certificate program that allows graduate students enrolled in any UBC graduate program to gain a specialization in migration and mobilities studies.
Meet the students below.
Adam Arca
Master’s Student, School of Population and Public Health
Adam’s research explores community-based, intersectional, and anti-colonial/imperial approaches to understanding the relationships between migrant status, migrant labor, care, and the experiences of racialized, gendered, and queer bodies. They focus on migrant labor and welfare movements, as well as grassroots activism in relation to the Philippines. Currently, their research delves into the connections between discard/waste studies and the experiences of migrant care workers.
Caroline Armstrong
Master’s Student, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies
Caroline’s MA thesis investigates methods for isolating climate change within the paleo-environmental records of the Eastern Mediterranean Late Bronze Age (1600-1100 BCE) to analyze how environmental shifts relate to human migration and mobility from an archaeological perspective. This research links ancient scholarship to contemporary concerns, highlighting the intersection of human movement, environmental changes, and climate shifts. The work aims to provide insights into the future impact of the climate crisis on migration patterns.
Roísín Cahill
Master’s Student, Political Science
Roísín’s primary research interests focus on the impact of conflict-related violence on communities, as well as frameworks of transitional justice and post-conflict recovery. They are also drawn to trauma-informed peace-building approaches that consider public memory, reconciliation, and aspects of recovery such as grief, anger, and trust. Within migration studies, their work explores the intersections of conflict, migration, memory, and diaspora.
Behtash’s research focuses on the economic aspects of migration, specifically in response to natural disasters. Their focus is on Structural and Earthquake Engineering.
Carlos Mayorga
Master’s Student, French, Hispanic and Italian Studies
Carlos’s current research examines the impact of migration and displacement on the works of contemporary Nicaraguan authors who left their homeland during childhood or adolescence and built their lives and literary careers abroad.
Dhriti Mehta
PhD Student, Political Science
Dhriti’s research focuses on the politics of immigration, integration, and citizenship policymaking, with a particular interest in skilled migration and diaspora politics, especially in the contexts of Canada and India. As a doctoral student under Dr. Antje Ellermann, she seeks to advance comparative studies of migration politics and policymaking in North America and beyond. Dhriti is a Graduate Research Assistant for the “Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides” project, funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. She also brings extensive experience in U.S. immigration law to her academic work.
Alix Mintha
Master’s Student, Anthropology
Alix’s research focuses on migration, citizenship, and gender and sexuality studies, with a current focus on the experiences of lesbian asylum seekers and their lawyers following the implementation of Canada’s 2017 SOGIESC legal guidelines. This work critically analyzes the guidelines to assess their impact and support efforts to promote dignity, fairness, and cultural competence in asylum proceedings.
Asya Savelyeva
Master Student, Anthropology
Asya’s research explores the enforced transnationalism and belonging experiences of Ukrainian asylum seekers in Vancouver, displaced by Russia’s 2022 invasion. The work of Asya examines how Canadian policies, such as the CUAET program, and Russia’s colonial war shape these asylum seekers’ ties to Ukraine, influencing their cultural identity and sense of belonging within Canada’s multicultural framework.
