Mimi Sheller

Dr. Mimi Sheller is the Dean of The Global School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), an internationally recognized scholar in mobilities research, and a leader in higher education. Previously, she held roles as tenured Professor of Sociology, Department Head, and Director of the Center for Mobilities Research and Policy at Drexel University. She earned degrees from Harvard University, the New School for Social Research, and holds honorary doctorates. Her research focuses on Caribbean climate adaptation, mobility justice, and the ethics of infrastructure, with over 150 publications and 15 authored/co-edited books. Awards include the Doctor Honoris Causa (2015) and the Drexel Provost’s Award (2018). Dr. Sheller advises global organizations like the World Bank and has led interdisciplinary projects on sustainable mobilities and climate resilience.

Education:

• AB History and Literature, Harvard University
• MA Sociology and Historical Studies, New School for Social Research
• PhD Sociology and Historical Studies, New School for Social Research

Research Interests: Caribbean studies, mobility justice, climate adaptation, digital geographies, and sociotechnical systems. She explores how mobilities intersect with racial, environmental, and economic justice.

Recent Work:

• Co-authored Pandemic (Im)mobilities (2025) examining viral mobilities and governance.
• Edited volumes on mobility justice and Caribbean futures, including Island Futures (2020).

Awards & Honors:

• Doctor Honoris Causa (Roskilde University, 2015)
• Drexel Provost’s Award (2018)
• Visiting Professorships at leading institutions worldwide

Advisory Roles: Member of advisory boards for the Society for Caribbean Research, Penn’s Global Communication Center, and the Global Partnership for Informal Transportation. She also contributes to initiatives like the Caribbean Collaborative Action Network.

Grants & Funding: Secured support from NSF, NOAA, MacArthur Foundation, and others for projects on climate resilience and mobilities research.