معرفی
Prema Kurien is a Professor of Sociology at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She previously served as director of the South Asia Center and is affiliated with the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University (1993). Her research focuses on international migration, immigrant politics, and the sociology of religion, particularly analyzing how global factors shape diasporic communities. She adopts a transnational approach to study race, ethnicity, religion, and activism among South Asian and Hindu communities in the U.S.
Her notable works include award-winning books such as Claiming Citizenship: Race, Religion, and Political Mobilization among New Americans (2025), Ethnic Church Meets Mega Church (2017), and A Place at the Multicultural Table (2007). Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and others. She has received over a dozen academic awards recognizing her scholarship and teaching excellence.
- Education: Ph.D., Brown University (1993)
- Key Research Themes:
- Transnational migration dynamics
- Racial and religious identity formation
- South Asian diaspora politics
- Comparative religion and society
Dr. Kurien’s recent work examines anti-South Asian racism in the U.S. context, caste-based activism among diasporic communities, and the intersection of religion with political mobilization. She frequently presents at major conferences including the American Sociological Association and has been a keynote speaker at events like the International Forum on Religions.
Her teaching includes courses on global communities, sociological theory, and field research methods at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She advises graduate students in sociology and migration studies programs.
