Jeffrey Kahn is a sociocultural anthropologist and legal scholar focusing on migration, mobility, border policing, and the intersections of sovereignty and law. His research emphasizes the experiences of Haitian migrants, particularly in relation to maritime worlds and legal activism. Kahn's acclaimed book, 'Islands Sovereignty: Haitian Migration Borders Empire', published in 2019 by the University of Chicago Press, explores historical boat migration from Haiti to the United States and highlights the development of new forms of legal activism as well as border governance. His work, impactful in the field, has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Herbert Jacob Book Prize for law and society scholarship. His scholarship further investigates how practices of oceanic mobility and material infrastructures shape the economies of Haitians navigating Caribbean borders amid American containment policies. Kahn has contributed extensively to the field with multiple articles and chapters addressing maritime migration, urbanization, and legal anthropology. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and has held research positions at prestigious institutions, including Yale Law School and Harvard Academy for International Area Studies.
University of California, Davis • Davis, CA
Teaching and research in the Department of Anthropology, with a focus on sociocultural anthropology and legal studies.
Harvard Academy •
Conducted research as part of the Harvard Academy for International Area Studies.
Law/Robina Foundation •
Focused on human rights issues during fellowship at Yale Law School.
U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit •
Clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals, providing legal research and assistance.