Alejandro Portes
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Portes is a prominent Cuban-American sociologist
. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1970. He is currently chair of the department of sociology at Princeton University
and a member of the National Academy of Science, and of the Board of Trustees and the Scientific Council at the IMDEA Social Sciences Institute. He also served as the president of American Sociological Association
in 1999. His academic studies have focused on immigration
to the United States
and factors affecting the fates of immigrants and their children. He has also done work on shack settlements in Latin America.
Portes has held the John Dewey
Chair in Arts and Science at Johns Hopkins University
and the Emilio Bacardi distinguished professorship at the University of Miami
. He has also previously taught at the University of Texas at Austin
and Duke University
. In 2008 Portes was awarded the NAS Award for Scientific Reviewing from the National Academy of Sciences
.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1970. He is currently chair of the department of sociology at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and a member of the National Academy of Science, and of the Board of Trustees and the Scientific Council at the IMDEA Social Sciences Institute. He also served as the president of American Sociological Association
American Sociological Association
The American Sociological Association , founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society , is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology by serving sociologists in their work and promoting their contributions to serve society.The ASA holds its...
in 1999. His academic studies have focused on immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and factors affecting the fates of immigrants and their children. He has also done work on shack settlements in Latin America.
Portes has held the John Dewey
John Dewey
John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. Dewey was an important early developer of the philosophy of pragmatism and one of the founders of functional psychology...
Chair in Arts and Science at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and the Emilio Bacardi distinguished professorship at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. He has also previously taught at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. In 2008 Portes was awarded the NAS Award for Scientific Reviewing from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.