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The experiences of immigrants, refugees and asylees -- and the policies shaping their lives in an increasingly fraught political climate -- will be the focus of a day-long conference at St. Francis College, the second of two major events that together kick off the college's new Forum on Migration.

The April 25th Inaugural Conference: Global Migration will bring together scholars, law and policy professionals, advocates and immigrants themselves.

In a series of panel discussions and lectures, presenters will address the current state of immigration policies, the impact of today's immigration discourse on immigrants' lived experiences, and government interventions that can facilitate people's relocations across national borders.

Michael Doyle Ph.D., former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a founder of the Model International Mobility Convention will present the day's keynote address. Dr. Doyle is currently a Professor of International Relations at Columbia University.

St. Francis College President Miguel Martinez-Saenz Ph.D. will deliver opening remarks.

Among the day's other approximately fifteen presenters are:

• Jojo Annobil JD, the Executive Director of Immigrant Justice Corps and formerly the Attorney-in-Charge of The Legal Aid Society's Immigration Law Unit. Annobil is also an adjunct professor at New York University Law School.

• David Charles Brotherton Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Urban Education and Criminal Justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York.

• Yassin El-Ayouty Ph.D., Founder and President of SUNSGLOW – Global Training in the Rule of Law – a nonprofit is devoted to transnational judicial and legal training, especially in the developing world.

• Richard Towle, Deputy Director of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' New York Office, and prior UNHCR Representative in Malaysia.

"Immigration is one of the most charged issues facing policy makers, and the discourse around it is very often so seeped in divisive politics that it is unproductive," said Halyna Lemekh Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology at St. Francis College and Co-Director of the Forum on Migration. "Our intent is that the conference will motivate meaningful scholarship, shed light on issues needing the most urgent change, and educate attendees about the resources available and work being done now to combat obstacles faced by those aiming to forge new lives across borders."

In addition to Dr. Lemekh, St. Francis Assistant Professor of Psychology Daniel Kaplin Ph.D., the Forum on Migration's other Co-Director, and Uwe Geilen Ph.D., Executive Director of the Institute for International & Cross-Cultural Psychology and Professor-Emeritus of Psychology at St. Francis College, will be among the day's presenters.

St. Francis College launched the Forum on Migration in January 2019, to enhance civic consciousness, volunteerism and advocacy of immigrant rights. It hosted its first major conference, Coming to America in the 21st Century, on March 29th.

Along with the Forum on Migration, the conference co-sponsors are the SFC Institute for International & Cross-Cultural Psychology, SFC Global, SFC Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, SFC International Cultural Club, SFC Psi Chi, and SFC Psychology Club.

For a complete schedule of the day's sessions and to register for Inaugural Conference: Global Migration, click here.