I am a “Global Shifts: Urbanization, Migration and Climate Change” postdoctoral research fellow at Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a sociologist of education and migration, my research explores the complex intersections of educational policy, social justice, and the experiences of forced displacement. Specifically, my work centers on three interconnected areas: educational policy, aid, and development; social justice and urban disparities; and refugee and migrant education. I prioritize refugee voices and look at schools as fascinating microcosms of our society, where we can see how citizenship, belonging, and agency are constructed.

I received my Ph.D. in Sociology of Education from Ben Gurion University in the Negev in 2023. My dissertation project focused on the integration of refugee children in primary schools in Kampala, Uganda.
Throughout my career, I have designed, managed, and executed numerous multi-year research projects around displaced populations, development, and child protection topics in varied contexts, including insecure environments. I have extensive experience in qualitative and mixed research, particularly participatory visual research methods and RCT-based educational interventions. Findings from these interdisciplinary and often collaborative projects have been published as academic peer-reviewed articles, working papers and policy briefs.
I have also developed and taught numerous courses for undergraduate and graduate students on research methods, youth in Africa, and forced migration and supervised numerous award-winning research projects. You can find more information about my research, teaching, and public engagement on this website.

To get in touch, please navigate to the contact page or email me at manyakagan [at] gmail [dot] com.