Dr. Stephanie Canizales

Biography

Stephanie L. Canizales is an Assistant Professor and Faculty Director of the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California in 2018. Stephanie specializes in the study of international migration and immigrant integration, with a particular focus on the experiences of Latin American-origin immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Over the past decade, her work has concentrated on migration and the coming-of-age of unaccompanied children from Central America and Mexico, particularly in California and Texas. In her research and writing, she explores how immigration policy shapes the daily lives of migrant children and their families, as well as the immigrant communities they join or create. Her book, "Sin Padres, Ni Papeles", addresses these issues in depth. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Stephanie is the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, and her experiences as an unaccompanied youth in Los Angeles have fueled her commitment to public scholarship. Her research has been featured in notable outlets such as The New York Atlantic, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. Stephanie utilizes her expertise to inform policy work as a Resident Scholar with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and as a Research Consultant with UNICEF USA.

Research Interests