Jennifer Elrick

Jennifer Elrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, holding the endowed Chair in Multiculturalism. She was a scholar in residence at an institute from May to June 2024, focusing on foundational work for new research initiatives.

Her research centers on migration governance, diversity, and social stratification, with two primary themes: (1) the social construction of state immigration classifications and their selection dynamics along racial, class, and moral lines; and (2) the material and symbolic impacts of these classifications on affected populations. She additionally investigates public perceptions of state immigration categories—including 'high skilled immigrants,' 'low skilled migrants,' 'family immigrants,' and 'refugees'—using qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and document analysis across Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.