Vanessa Hughes

Vanessa Hughes is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She holds a PhD in Sociology from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has conducted research at Harvard University and the University of Oxford’s COMPAS. Her work focuses on migration, citizenship, immigration policies, and participatory methods, with a particular emphasis on how immigration status shapes social inequalities and access to education and welfare rights.

Dr. Hughes’ research highlights the lived experiences of migrants in London, exploring the intersection of temporality, life course, and legal status. She co-founded the social enterprise actREAL to bridge academic research with community engagement through theatre and performance. She also co-designed the Race Matters initiative at LSE to foster discussions on race in international social policy.

Her publications include Citizenship and Its Others (2015), analyses of child migrants’ education rights, and reports on irregular migrants’ legal entitlements in Europe. Her recent work critiques policies that marginalize undocumented youth and advocates for equitable access to education and healthcare.

Key collaborations include projects with the Council of Europe, Migrants’ Rights Network, and co-authors like Professors Bridget Anderson and Nando Sigona. Her teaching incorporates participatory methods, emphasizing creativity and critical engagement with social justice issues.