Aaron Ponce

Aaron Ponce is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Studies at Indiana University, affiliated with the Hamilton Lugar School. His research lies at the intersection of sociology, migration studies, race and ethnicity, and political sociology, with a focus on symbolic boundary making in immigrant-receiving societies.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University (2016), a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2010), an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin (2006), and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Miami (2001).

Aaron's research centers on how social boundaries—shaped by race, religion, language, and gender—define inclusion and exclusion in liberal democracies. He investigates the reception of Muslim immigrants in Europe and the U.S., the role of colonial histories in shaping contemporary migration attitudes, and the dynamics of citizenship and belonging. His work challenges simplistic views of diversity as inherently divisive, showing how historical and institutional contexts mediate its effects on social cohesion.

His recent publications explore themes such as Islamophobia, racial hierarchies, gendered xenophobia, and migration to Nordic welfare states. These works, published in top journals like Social Forces and Ethnic and Racial Studies, reveal how overlapping symbolic boundaries structure intergroup relations and immigrant integration.

He has received research support from prestigious organizations including:

• National Science Foundation
• United States Department of Education
• German Universities Excellence Initiative (via Technische Universität Dresden)

Aaron is also deeply committed to teaching, offering courses such as Sociological Theory, Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, Global Society, and Political Sociology. His pedagogical approach emphasizes global perspectives and critical thinking, drawing on his multilingual and multicultural experiences. He mentors students and fosters intellectual curiosity through comparative analysis of global social trends.

He maintains an active research agenda comparing Muslim experiences across the U.S. and Europe and continues to explore how linguistic, racial, and religious identities intersect in shaping national belonging.