Open Society Foundations Grants $1 Million to The New School’s Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility to Advance the Study of the Effects of Local Governance on Global Migration and Refugee Protection

Colleen Thouez, PhD

New York, February 7, 2022 -- The New School’s Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility today announced a $1 million commitment from Open Society Foundations to undertake research and programming on   cities and mobility. 

This funding will enable the Zolberg Institute to bring on board Colleen Thouez, PhD, who joins the Zolberg Institute as Senior Fellow and will lead a major project Cities and Global Mobility. The Project will explore the emerging field of “cities as global actors.” It will support strategic consultations and gatherings with city governments, industry leaders, the United Nations system, inter-city networks, private funders, and philanthropy organizations, and direct outreach to mayors and other high-level officials.

“The world is reaching a critical juncture in the politics surrounding the massive movement of people across borders around the world, and there has been a global movement of cities rising to acknowledge their rightful place to take action on the international stage. Elevating the voices of cities on migration issues will help them innovate and push forward inclusive policies that will strengthen their communities,” said Thouez.
 
This funding will also allow the Zolberg Institute to support a number of additional projects, including faculty research and course development on cities and mobility. Of particular focus will be mobility and migrant communities in New York City, including research projects and opportunities for student engagement developed in partnership with New York City community-based organizations.

The Zolberg Institute, named for the late Aristide Zolberg, a professor of politics at The New School for Social Research and a pioneer in immigration politics, brings together global scholars to rethink human mobility and advance debates about migration and social justice. Directed by former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees T. Alexander (Alex) Aleinikoff, it is committed to a dynamic understanding of concepts central to the field of migration studies–borders, citizenship and other forms of membership, the nation-state, forced migration, and migration due to climate change and disasters.
 
“The Zolberg Institute has long served as a hub of research and innovation into human mobility that provides guidance to policymakers, academics, and leaders at the local and global levels,” said Aleinikoff, who also serves as a University Professor at The New School. “This generous gift will enable the institute to continue to provide city leaders, partners and others with the critical information needed to meet today’s migration and refugee protection challenges.”

Dr. Thouez has supported governments and other major players in the field of migration since 2002 when she was appointed policy director for the first Global Commission on International Migration established by Secretary-General Kofi Annan. She has been the Director of the Welcoming and Inclusive Cities Division at Open Society Foundations where she spearheaded major global mayors-led initiatives, and served as advisor to Sir Peter Sutherland, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on International Migration.

Founded in 1919, The New School was established to advance academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. A century later, The New School remains at the forefront of innovation in higher education, inspiring approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to challenge the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The university welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and public programs that encourage open discourse and social engagement. Through our online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence.

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