Temporary Foreign Worker Programs Professors and Supervisors

Evelyn Encalada GrezView profile

Assistant Professor

Simon Fraser UniversityCanada

Evelyn Encalada Grez is an Assistant Professor in the Labour Studies Program and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), where she is also a community-engaged scholar and public sociologist. She co-founded Justice for Migrant Workers (J4MW), a grassroots collective advocating for migrant rights across North America. Her transnational research and activism focus on labor migration, gender, race, and decolonial pedagogies. Education: PhD in Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, 2018 MA in Political Science, York University, 2003 BA (Hons) in Political Science and Latin American and Caribbean Studies, York University, 1998 Her research interests include labor migration, transnational ethnography, gender and sexuality, race and citizenship, and community-engaged scholarship. She explores how migrant women navigate coercive labor systems, assert agency through love and resistance, and reorganize family and care across borders. Her recent work examines the impact of the pandemic on migrant workers and the exclusion of internationally trained physicians in Canada. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on structural inequities in temporary migration programs, with an emphasis on Mexican and Caribbean migrant women. Her interdisciplinary scholarship bridges academic research with documentaries, public talks, and policy advocacy, showing trends in critical migration studies, feminist political economy, and decolonial theory. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Warren Gill Award for Community Impact, SFU, 2024 Top 10 Most Influential Hispanics, TLN, 2023 CERi Emerging Community Engaged Researcher Award, SFU, 2022 Most Influential Latin American-Canadian, Correo Canadiense, 2016 LASA/Oxfam America Martin Diskin Dissertation Award (Honorable Mention), 2018 Dr. Encalada Grez supervises Master’s students and is actively involved in SSHRC-funded research on migrant farmworkers, precarity, and transnational livelihoods. She is a key figure in the UP-BC (Understanding Precarity in British Columbia) project. She has served as Academic Director of a social justice study abroad program in Valparaíso, Chile, and continues to work transnationally with labor movements in Mexico and Central America. Labs and Teams: She is affiliated with the Understanding Precarity in BC (UP-BC) research collective and collaborates with Justice for Migrant Workers (J4MW) , CODEMUH in Mexico, and international labor rights networks. Her work is deeply collaborative, involving community organizations, co-researchers, and migrant worker collectives.

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Guadalupe Escalante RengifoView profile

Lecturer

University of OttawaCanada

Guadalupe Escalante Rengifo is a Part-Time Professor in the Faculty of Arts (History department) and Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She specializes in Latin American studies, migration, and cultural studies, teaching courses on Mexican-American history, Latin American politics, Canadian immigration, and Latin American cultures. She is also a PhD candidate in Spanish and Latin American Cultural Studies at the University of Ottawa. Her educational background includes: PhD in History, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, University of Puerto Rico (2012) Master's in Communication, Research and Theory, University of Puerto Rico (2002) Master's in Spanish, Concentration in Latin American Cultural Studies, University of Ottawa (2017) Bachelor's in Social Communication, Journalism, National University of San Marcos, Peru (1998) Certificate in University Teaching, TLSS-University of Ottawa (2023) Professor Escalante Rengifo's research focuses on Latin American colonial and contemporary history, immigration and diversity in Canada, Latin Americans in Canada, and Latino Studies. Her work examines forced migration, cosmopolitanism, and human rights through the lenses of Media Studies and Hispanic literatures and cultures. She investigates how technology and Digital Humanities tools can enhance research in these areas, with particular attention to Spanish as a Second Language education and the media representation of Latin American communities in Canada. She has received the University of Ottawa's Part-Time Professor of the Year Award for 2024-2025, recognizing her excellence in teaching and contribution to student learning. Professor Escalante Rengifo actively engages with interdisciplinary research networks. Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on migration narratives, cultural identity formation, and the intersection of media representation with social realities. She has established collaborative relationships with scholars across disciplines who share her interest in Latin American diasporas and cultural expression in Canadian contexts. She is affiliated with several research collectives and professional associations, including the University of Ottawa's Collectif de recherche sur les migrations et le racisme (Collective on Migration and Racism), the Canadian Association of Hispanists, the Latin American Studies Association, and the Canadian Association for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

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Emily van der MeulenView profile

Professor

Toronto Metropolitan UniversityCanada

Dr. Emily van der Meulen is a Professor in the Department of Criminology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Faculty of Arts. She holds a PhD in Women’s Studies from York University (2009) and has held postdoctoral fellowships at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. Her work focuses on gendered surveillance, prison health, sex work criminalization, and anti-human trafficking policies. She has conducted groundbreaking research on carceral syringe distribution, CCTV surveillance impacts, and migrant sex workers’ healthcare access. Her research employs community-based methodologies and addresses systemic issues like drug law enforcement’s moral injury, stigma in prison needle exchange programs, and therapeutic alignments between police and public health agencies. She has been awarded TMU’s Faculty of Arts Scholarly Award three times (2013, 2019, 2022). Collaborations include the HIV Legal Network, PASAN, and Butterfly. She teaches courses like Qualitative Research Methods and Gender, Sexuality, and the Law. Her publications critically examine carceral systems, drug policies, and the intersections of law and harm reduction. Current projects include analysis of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program labor exploitation narratives and the political framing of trafficking discourses.

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Monica Mi Hee HwangView profile

Associate Professor

St. Thomas More CollegeCanada

Monica Mi Hee Hwang serves as Associate Professor and Department Head of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan, affiliated with St. Thomas More College. Her research focuses on racial and ethnic stratification, immigration and diversity, political sociology, social inequality, social capital, and education. Current projects include a three-year study on Ukrainian migrants in Canada (funded by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies), voting rights for permanent residents in municipal elections (Research Junction Development Grant), and anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hwang investigates how race, ethnicity, and immigration shape political trust, social capital, and civic participation in Canadian society. Her work combines quantitative survey analysis with policy-relevant insights, emphasizing minority experiences of discrimination and integration. Key themes include structural inequality, pandemic-related racism, and migrant labor conditions. Recent publications demonstrate a concentrated focus on timely issues like anti-Asian discrimination during COVID-19, socioeconomic impacts of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, and prison inequality. Her scholarship consistently addresses Canadian social dynamics through frameworks of stratification, precarity, and institutional trust. Securing grants from the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies and Research Junction Development Grant, Hwang collaborates with the University of Alberta, McMaster University, City of Saskatoon, and Saskatoon Open Door Society. As Department Head of Sociology, she oversees academic operations while contributing as a Research Associate to the Prairie Centre for Ukrainian Heritage.

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Robert PauwView profile

Adjunct Professor

Western Washington UniversityUnited States

Robert Pauw is an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at Seattle University School of Law and a founding partner of Gibbs Houston Pauw, specializing in immigration law since 1983. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1983), a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1980), and a B.A. from Calvin College (1974). His expertise spans immigration litigation, policy, and advocacy, with a focus on judicial review, deportation procedures, and constitutional challenges. Pauw has been a faculty member at AILA’s Litigation Training Institute and frequently speaks at national conferences. He co-founded the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and served on multiple AILA committees, including Due Process and Amicus Committees. His research interests include the intersection of immigration law with constitutional principles, administrative law, and federal judicial review. Notable publications address topics like plenary power critiques, deportation as punishment, and legal strategies for immigrants at ports of entry. He has been recognized with awards such as the Carol King Award (2009) and the Jack Wasserman Award (1999). Pauw advises non-profits and advocacy groups on immigration issues and has held leadership roles in organizations like the American Immigration Council and Mennonite Central Committee. Professionally, he is admitted to the Washington State Bar, U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple federal circuits. His career reflects a commitment to legal advocacy, policy reform, and immigrant rights, blending academic contributions with impactful litigation and organizational leadership.

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Silvia SarapuraView profile

Associate Professor

University of GuelphCanada

Silvia Sarapura is an Associate Professor at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development within the University of Guelph, specializing in Rural Planning & Development. She holds a BSc and Engineering Degree in Agronomy from Peru, followed by an MSc in Capacity Development and Extension, and a PhD in Rural Studies from the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on resilient agri-food systems, gender transformative change, seed systems, and Indigenous knowledge integration. She has led projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Canada, addressing issues like Temporary Foreign Worker Program vulnerabilities, climate adaptation in Indigenous communities, and sustainable potato production practices. Education: BSc and Engineering Degree in Agronomy, Peru MSc in Capacity Development and Extension, University of Guelph PhD in Rural Studies, University of Guelph Post-Doctoral Fellowship, WorldFish, CGIAR Research Interests: Gender-based violence in agricultural labor Indigenous seed systems and food sovereignty Climate-smart agriculture in the Global South Youth decision-making in rural development Intersectionality in land use planning Her recent work includes Braiding Food Systems in Northern Ontario First Nations, investigating climate adaptation through Indigenous seed networks, and analyzing barriers to gender equity in STEM fields for green industries in Colombia. She has secured grants from SSHRC, OMAFRA, and MITACS, among others. Scientific Awards: Board of Graduate Studies Research Scholarship (2012) Dean’s Scholarship to Research and Leadership Skills (2011) Craig Pearson International Research Scholarship (2010) Grants & Projects: SSHRC-funded study on gender-based violence in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program OMAFRA-funded Braiding Food Systems project with First Nations communities MITACS project on Indigenous youth & climate change in the Peruvian Andes Her work emphasizes participatory approaches, capacity building, and North-South partnerships to foster equitable and sustainable development.

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Idil AtakView profile

Professor

Toronto Metropolitan UniversityCanada

Dr. Idil Atak serves as Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's Lincoln Alexander School of Law, specializing in migration law, refugee protection, and human rights. Her expertise encompasses irregular migration, securitization of migration policies, and international human rights frameworks, with significant contributions to global migration governance discourse through leadership roles including Director-at-Large for CARFMS and former Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Migration and Border Studies. Her academic foundation includes: LLD (Doctor of Laws) from Université de Montréal MA (Social Sciences) from University of Marmara BA (Public Administration and International Relations) from University of Bogazici Atak's research critically examines the intersection of security imperatives and human rights in migration governance, focusing on policy consequences like criminalization, externalization, and sanctuary city dynamics. Her interdisciplinary approach combines legal analysis with political science perspectives to address vulnerabilities of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, particularly in Canadian urban contexts. Recent publications reveal evolving focus on Global Compact implementation, human trafficking data systems, and sanctuary policy efficacy, demonstrating consistent engagement with contemporary migration challenges through international collaborations. Her work consistently highlights tensions between state security measures and fundamental human rights protections. Key recognitions include: Ontario's Early Researcher Award (2019-2024) Université de Montréal's Best International Thesis Award (2012) She directs multiple SSHRC-funded projects examining migration securitization, sanctuary policies, and trafficking responses, while actively mentoring emerging scholars and shaping refugee studies through CARFMS leadership. Her research teams integrate legal scholars, policymakers, and community organizations to address complex migration challenges through evidence-based approaches.

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Khadija GahaView profile

Adjunct Professor

Université Sainte-AnneCanada

Khadija Gaha is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Administrative Sciences at Université Sainte-Anne's Faculty of Professional Programs, a position she has held since 2021. Her research examines critical aspects of workplace dynamics and labor challenges in Canada. Education Doctorate in Administration (HR specialization), joint program ESG-UQAM (2019) Master's in Human Resource Management, ISG (2007) Bachelor's in Human Resource Management, ISG (2005) Research Focus Gaha investigates organizational behavior, emotional labor, emotional justice, and human resource management, with specific emphasis on challenges faced by temporary foreign workers in Canada. Her current work addresses labor shortages and stress management strategies in professional environments.

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