Roberto G. Gonzales

Roberto G. Gonzales is the Richard Perry University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, holding dual appointments in the Graduate School of Education and the Department of Sociology. He is a leading scholar on immigration policy, undocumented youth, and social inequality. His research bridges sociology, education, law, and anthropology, focusing on systemic barriers faced by marginalized populations during their transition to adulthood. Gonzales directs the University-wide Penn Migration Initiative, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship on immigration issues.

His landmark book Lives in Limbo (2015), winner of eight major awards, documents the struggles and resilience of undocumented young adults. Recent projects include the National UnDACAmented Research Project, analyzing DACA's impact on over 2,700 young immigrants, and studies on educator responses to anti-immigrant policies. Gonzales advises policymakers, testifies before Congress, and publishes widely in top journals like the American Sociological Review.

His work emphasizes the intersection of legal status, institutional structures, and human agency. Key themes include citizenship dynamics, migrant integration, and the human cost of restrictive immigration policies. Gonzales has received grants from major foundations and is a frequent media commentator on immigration topics.

Professional Affiliations: Founding Director of Penn Migration Initiative, Convenor of the Ethnography in Education Research Forum. Previously held positions at Harvard, University of Chicago, and University of Washington.