Migration scholar Dr. Deniz Sert shares her passionate mission to improve migration governance and advocate for more humane policies for displaced people, revealing how her work in Turkey—one of the world's largest refugee host countries—bridges academia, policy consulting, and advocacy.

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With remarkable candor, she discusses the emotional challenges of researching vulnerable populations while navigating political censorship and how building collaborative relationships with colleagues and mentoring students brings meaning to her professional life. Dr. Sert offers a nuanced perspective on the unique challenges women face in academia and research, from classroom dynamics to the uneven expectations of family responsibilities.

This episode provides essential insights for anyone interested in migration studies, academic careers, or understanding how scholars can translate research into real-world impact while maintaining personal well-being. Her story demonstrates how connecting with people—from students to refugees—ultimately creates work that's truly worth it.
Key Points:

• Deniz Sert is a professor in Istanbul studying migration and advocating for more humane policies for displaced people
• She emphasizes that global mobility is highly unequal based on nationality, economic status, and professional affiliations
• Transitioned from wanting to open a publishing press to academia due to encouraging mentors
• Balances academic research, teaching, consulting, and civil society work
• Co-founded the Association for Migration Research to support ethical research amid government censorship
• Self-identifies as a "people person" skilled at synthesizing complex migration issues for diverse audiences
• Maintains motivation through diverse work activities and student engagement
• Faces challenges including emotional boundaries when working with traumatic stories and work-life balance
• Notes gender disparities - her husband could leave for work for months while she was questioned about taking a sabbatical
• Migration careers exist in academia, international organizations (UNHCR, IOM), NGOs, and donor organizations
• Aid workers must protect themselves from secondary trauma and recognize their limitations
• Values personal connections made through her work above academic publications

Resources

• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• World Food Organization
• World Health Organization
• UNICEF
• Association for Migration Research (organization Deniz co-founded)