Professor Nakache is internationally renowned for her research on refugee and migration policy and practice, with a career dedicated to amplifying the voices of the vulnerable populations navigating Canada’s complex legal frameworks. By centering the lived experiences of migrants – in their own words – Professor Nakache has made a profound impact on public policy, legal practice, and human rights protections.
Her approach to research is both original and impactful. Professor Nakache has explored the legal and policy experiences of some of the most precarious migrant populations, including temporary workers, undocumented migrants, and refugee claimants – groups whose perspectives are often overlooked in public policy debates. She was one of the first Canadian scholars to combine quantitative and qualitative empirical methods to analyze migration systems, producing work that influences not only academic circles but also governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
For example, Professor Nakache was the first Canadian scholar to closely examine refugee detention, producing a 105-page report for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2011. Drawing on interviews, statistical data, and on-site visits, the report prompted more transparent and comprehensive recording of detention data by the Canadian government and continues to inform policy and public discourse. Her research on temporary migration similarly filled critical gaps in understanding migrant worker categories beyond the traditional focus on low-skill programs, informing both scholarship and policy.
Fluent in English and French, Professor Nakache has produced 4 books, 5 edited collections, 12 refereed book chapters, and 24 peer-reviewed journal articles. Her 2016 co-authored book, , was the most comprehensive Canadian work on citizenship law at the time, while explores the rights and obligations accompanying Canadian citizenship. In 2024, she was awarded the University Research Chair on Migrant Protection and International Law, enabling her to continue developing innovative legal and policy frameworks to better protect precarious status migrants marginalized immigrants.
Professor Nakache’s work extends beyond academia. She collaborates closely with community organizations, including the ,
(CCIS), , , and . She has provided expert advice to the UNHCR, the World Bank, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Auditor General of Canada, ensuring that her research leads to tangible improvements in the lives of migrants.
Through her scholarship and advocacy, Professor Nakache has established herself as a global leader in migration law, ensuring that the experiences of migrants and refugees inform legal frameworks, policy decisions, and public understanding.
The recognizes Canada’s emerging intellectual leaders. Members, who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, are elected for seven years based on early-career excellence.
Professor Nakache will be formally inducted at the RSC’s celebration of excellence this fall.
Congratulations to Professor Nakache on this remarkable achievement!