Silvia Pedraza

Silvia Pedraza is a Professor of Sociology and American Culture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Sociology and American Culture, and is an affiliate of the Latina/o Studies Program. Her research focuses on international sociology, inequalities, politics, and historical approaches, with particular emphasis on immigration, race, ethnicity, revolutions, and refugees. Her studies center on the United States, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Spain.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Chicago
• M.A. and B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Her research explores migration as a transformative process for nations, examining political disaffection in revolutionary contexts and the role of refugee movements. Key works include Political Disaffection in Cuba's Revolution and Exodus and Revolutions in Cuba and Venezuela: One Hope, Two Realities. She also investigates transnationalism, gender, and the sociopolitical dynamics of immigration policies.

Her articles analyze topics such as Cuban immigrant transnationalism, the sociocultural future of Cuba, and the intersection of race, migration, and identity. Recent work addresses contemporary crises in Cuba and U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations.

Affiliations & Leadership:

• Associate Editor, Social Science History
• Former Chair of ASA Sections (Latina/o Sociology, Race and Ethnic Minorities)
• Former President, Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE)
• Executive Committee Member, Social Science History Association (SSHA)

Teaching & Academic Contributions:

She teaches courses on American immigration history, Latinas/os in the U.S., and sociological perspectives on transformative migration. Her work bridges historical and contemporary analyses, emphasizing comparative methodologies. She has organized interdisciplinary initiatives, such as a Cuban Studies dossier on Cuba's transitional dynamics.