William Westerman

William Westerman serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at New Jersey City University (NJCU), where he conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of migration studies, cultural sociology, and human rights.

His educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. and A.M. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania
• A.B. in Sociology from Harvard University

Research spans critical migration issues including refugee experiences, immigration detention systems, political asylum processes, and human rights advocacy, with regional focus on New Jersey immigrant communities and undocumented youth/DACA recipients. Cultural dimensions encompass immigrant arts/music education, ethnographic museum studies, folklore traditions, visual sociology (cinema/photography), indigenous language preservation, and inclusive pedagogy frameworks that integrate social justice principles with the sociology of knowledge.

While specific awards and grant details are unreported in available materials, his scholarly contributions manifest through comprehensive examination of cultural sustainability, oral history methodologies, nonviolent social movements, and the sociological analysis of folk protest within immigrant communities.