Laurier expert alert: World Refugee Day

June 17, 2020
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – World Refugee Day is held annually on June 20. Wilfrid Laurier University has several experts available to speak about refugees, migration and related topics.

Bree Akesson is an associate professor of social work, associate director of the Centre for Research on Security Practices and research associate with the International Migration Research Centre. She is an expert on war-affected and refugee children and families. She is available to comment on refugee family issues in a variety of international contexts, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Uganda. Read more about her work. Contact: bakesson@wlu.ca

Abdelfettah Elkchirid is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work and a practicing social worker. He is an expert on cross-cultural social work practice, international social work and social work practice with refugees, survivors of trauma and survivors of torture. He is also active in the refugee community in Waterloo Region, including with Muslim Social Services Kitchener Waterloo and Reception House Waterloo Region, and has been recognized with an Award of Distinction by World Refugee Day of Waterloo Region. Contact: aelkchirid@wlu.ca

Professor Robert McLeman, in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, is an expert on the human dimensions of climate change, including the relationship between the environment and human migration, community adaptation to climatic variability and change, and citizen participation in environmental science. He is available to speak about the impacts of climate change and drought on global migration patterns and the impacts of environmental migration to North America. Read more about his work. Contact: rmcleman@wlu.ca

Edward Shizha is a professor in Youth and Children’s Studies. His research focuses on the programs and services designed to support the needs of immigrants and refugees, especially newcomers from Africa, and challenges associated with accessing those supports in Canada. He also studies education in sub-Saharan Africa and the experiences of African immigrants and refugees in the Canadian education system. Contact: meshizha@wlu.ca

Stacey Wilson-Forsberg, associate professor in Laurier’s Human Rights and Human Diversity program, is an expert on migration and multiculturalism, with a focus on the experiences of immigrant and refugee youth in Canada. She is currently leading a study on the experiences of African refugee youth as they transition into postsecondary institutions across Canada and co-leading another study on educational outcomes for Black youth in Saskatoon. She has also studied the experiences of Central American and African asylum-seekers in Mexico. Contact: swilsonforsberg@wlu.ca