Hannah Postel

Hannah Postel is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. A social demographer specializing in migration, she investigates the intersection of immigration policy, economic development, and racial segregation, with a focus on the Global South and historical U.S. immigration restrictions like the Chinese Exclusion laws.

• PhD in Demography and Public Policy
• Bachelor's in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College

Her research challenges myths about immigration's impact on labor markets and emphasizes inclusive methodologies for underrepresented groups. Postel's work has been supported by Fulbright grants, and she actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations across sociology, economics, and law.

Key article trends include:

• Historical immigration policy analysis (e.g., Bracero Program, Chinese Exclusion)
• Economic development-migration nexus in Global South
• Methodological innovations in demographic data linkage
• Critique of EU migration and refugee policies
• Design of equitable temporary work visa programs
• Debunking immigration policy myths

Scientific awards include a Fulbright Research Grant. She advocates for evidence-based migration policies and teaches future policymakers at Sanford.