Dr. Nielan Barnes, Professor

Main Courses: 

  • Principles of Sociology 100
  • Sociology of Health and Medicine 462
  • Aging and Society 464
  • Sociological Dimensions of Mortality and Bereavement 465

Education:

  • Ph.D. Sociology, University of California, San Diego, 2005
  • M.A. Sociology, University of California, San Diego, 2001
  • M.A. Latin American Studies, University of California, San Diego, 1998.
  • B.A. Womens Studies, San Diego State University, 1994

Current Research, Community Affiliations and Activities:

Professor Barnes current research investigates the intersectional dimensions of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer; often referred to as sexual minorities) immigration from Mexico to the US and Canada.  As part of the research, Prof. Barnes has testified as an expert witness and served as a pro bono consultant in over 50 Immigration Asylum cases involving networks of lawyers and immigration advocates throughout the US.  On March 6 2015 the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments for three of these transgender asylum cases under appeal; the written decision filed on . This case known as Avendano vs. Lynch is groundbreaking in that it establishes legal precedence that 1) gender identity is a separate category from sexual identity and 2) country conditions in Mexico for transgender constitute a basis for a positive asylum claim. Here are two links to articles from the  (and ) in which Dr. Barnes is quoted.

Selected Publications:

  • (2022) LGBTQ Human Rights and Conservative Pro-Family Backlash: A Case Study of Digital Activism in Mexico, , Vol. 3, No. 2: 1-11.
  • (2020) Working within the Asylum Advocacy Nexus: Epistemological Strategies for LGBT Country Condition Expert Witnesses, , Vol. 10 No. 11: 11-22.
  • (2019) Within the asylumadvocacy nexus: An analysis of Mexican transgender asylum seekers in the United States, , 2:5-25.
  • (2013). What Does the 2010 Affordable Care Act Mean for Securing Immigrant Health in North America?  In , Gaspare M. Genna and David A. Mayer-Foulkes, Eds. Oxford, Routledge Press.
  • (2013). Is health a labour, citizenship or human right? Mexican seasonal agricultural workers in Leamington, Canada, Jul; 8(6):654-69.
  • (2011). Canada-US-Mexico Integration:  Assessing (Im)migrant Health Policy Convergence, , Issue No 44 November 2011.
  • (2011). North American Integration?  Civil Society and Immigrant Health Policy Convergence. Vol 39. No. 1: 69-89.
  • (2010). Social Network Analysis in Transnational Settings: The Case of Mexico Citys AIDS CBOs, , Vol. 5 No.1.

 Awards and Grants:

  • 2014 Recipient of the
  •  2009 CONNECT Fellowship in Canadian Studies
  • 2009 Embassy of Canada Faculty Research Grant
  • 2007-2008 Fulbright Scholarship: Canada-Mexico Joint Award in North American Studies