Patricia Fernandez-Kelly

Patricia Fernandez-Kelly is a Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Research Associate at the Office of Population Research. She directs the Center for Migration and Development. Her work focuses on international economic development, gender, class, ethnicity, and urban ethnography. Key contributions include studies on export-processing zones, migration, and the impact of state policies on marginalized communities.

Her research highlights the role of government institutions in shaping poverty dynamics, particularly among African American and Hispanic populations. Notable works include The Hero’s Fight (C. Wright Mills finalist) and co-producing the Emmy-winning documentary The Global Assembly Line. She has authored/co-authored influential books on migration, health care access, and immigrant integration.

Fernández-Kelly’s awards include the C. Wright Mills Finalist Award and an Emmy. Current research explores Cuban-American working-class experiences in South Florida. She leads initiatives analyzing transnational organizations and the paradoxes of immigrant adaptation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to social justice.

Her academic leadership spans roles in Princeton’s sociology department and affiliated research centers, fostering dialogue between academia and policy. Her work bridges ethnographic fieldwork with theoretical frameworks to address global inequalities and institutional challenges faced by marginalized groups.