Nancy Foner Wins a Berlin Prize from the American Academy in Berlin

Distinguished Professor Nancy Foner (GC/Hunter, Sociology) has won a Berlin Prize from the American Academy in Berlin to spend the fall 2017 semester in Berlin studying the effects of immigration on American social life and demographics.

Foner, who was recently named a 2017 Guggenheim Fellow, is known for her comparative studies of immigration. A prolific scholar, she has researched and written about different eras in U.S. immigration, the experiences of immigrant minorities in the United States and Europe, and the immigrant experience in different U.S. cities. 

In Berlin, Foner will examine the effects of post-1965 immigration on the demographic makeup and social life of the United States. She will focus on contemporary life and look at how changes created by past immigration help inform current transformations.

The Berlin Prize is awarded annually to scholars, writer, composers, and artists from the United States who, in the words of the academy, "represent the highest standards of excellence in their fields." The fellowship includes a monthly stipend, partial board, and accommodations at the Academy's lakeside Hans Arnhold Center in Berlin-Wanssee.

In a statement, Berlin Academy President Michael P. Steinberg called this year's 22 fellows 'stunning,' adding that, "Their work will be of lasting value and, on the way, spark exciting conversations and connections between the U.S. and Germany."