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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas has hired two sociologists to plan a center for migration and immigration studies.
School officials say Victor Agadjanian and Cecilia Menjívar, both distinguished professors at Arizona State University, will begin work in Kansas this fall. The Lawrence Journal-World reports (http://bit.ly/1bMj6Ut ) the professors will start planning the center when they arrive on campus.
"We have faculty strength here, but we haven't had a research center particularly focused on this area," said Mary Lee Hummert, interim vice chancellor for research. "Each of them (Agadjanian and Menjívar) is fabulous in terms of groundbreaking research that they've been doing."
Agadjanian is the founding director of Arizona State's Center for Population Dynamics, and his research focuses on social change in sub-Saharan Africa, the former Soviet Union and Latin America. Menjívar's work centers on migration from Central America to the U.S.
"Professor Agadjanian will bring innovative perspectives to KU and provide fresh appreciation of the risks experienced by populations on the move," Provost Jeff Vitter said in a news release. Menjívar "will generate additional national and international recognition for the work KU conducts in the fields of migration, immigration and vulnerable populations."
The center will use funds allocated to the university's Foundation Distinguished Professor initiative. It will first operate within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences but the university hopes the center will eventually become a self-supported research center.
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Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com
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