Katharyne Mitchell

Katharyne Mitchell serves as Dean of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her academic leadership spans both administrative and scholarly domains within the social sciences.

Her research focuses on the ethics, practice and politics of church sanctuary in protecting asylum seekers in Europe, situated within broader frameworks of migration studies and humanitarian action. This work intersects with critical geographies, examining spatial dimensions of migration policies and refugee protection systems.

Mitchell's recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to critical migration studies, with three major handbooks published between 2018-2023. These works establish her as a leading scholar in critical approaches to migration, philanthropy, and humanitarianism, with particular attention to the political dimensions of sanctuary movements and refugee protection.

• Guggenheim Fellowship (2016)
• MacArthur Foundation Fellowship
• Spencer Foundation Fellowship
• Fulbright Foundation Fellowship
• National Science Foundation Fellowship

Mitchell has held prestigious visiting positions including Visiting Professor at St. Catherine's College, University of Oxford, and Isaac Manasseh Meyer Fellow at the National University of Singapore, demonstrating her international academic recognition and collaborative research network.