As students in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy examined the complexities of U.S. refugee policy in Senior Lecturer Julie Ficarra’s class, Refugee Pathways and Resettlement Policy (PUBPOL 3050/5050) last fall, they grappled with difficult potential scenarios now unfolding in real time as a result of the Trump Administration’s pause of the refugee resettlement program.

“I grew up in Syracuse and volunteered for many years teaching English to refugees, and so I witnessed the incredible work that refugee resettlement agencies do,” said Ficarra. “It was really important to me personally that this course be community-engaged and that it exposed students to these organizations. The real value in this course is that students are learning with and from community members through engagement with their work.”

A total of 7,810 Refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs) resettled in New York State in FY 2024, with over half located in Oneida and Erie Counties. Ficarra worked with local partner organizations to design a course that leaves her students with a practical understanding of the complex issues new refugees face when they arrive on U.S. shores, while at the same time contributing to partner organizations’ success. The course was developed with support from the Migrations Program, part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and the Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures Initiative.

"I’ve read the articles, watched the news, and studied forced migration and refugee studies—but nothing compares to stepping into formal resettlement agencies, speaking with refugees, and witnessing the challenges and resilience firsthand,” said Ariela Asllani, Public Policy ‘26. “The Brooks School’s commitment to engaged learning transforms policy from theory into lived experience, pushing students beyond the page and into the realities that shape people’s lives. At a time when the refugee system is facing unprecedented strain and urgent reform is needed, this experience made me see the human impact of policy in a way no textbook ever could.” 

During their time in Refugee Pathways, undergraduate and graduate students study the journeys of refugee groups from around the world, tracking them from conflict zones through displacement and encampment all the way to resettlement in the United States. Through their coursework, students come to understand the political and geographic circumstances surrounding refugee displacement and migration as they track the policy landscape that shapes refugee resettlement efforts in the U.S.. 

The engaged learning partnerships build on this knowledge base and bring it into human focus, as the students spend time with the leaders of the community and grassroots agencies that play a crucial role in welcoming refugees into a new society. 

“Perhaps most valuable was hearing directly from staff and volunteers at the refugee resettlement agencies themselves. These weren't curated or academic interpretations—these were raw, authentic perspectives from people doing the actual work every day,” said Lorenzo Morales-DuBois, Health Care Policy ‘27. “This immersive approach transformed my understanding in ways traditional coursework simply cannot. While you can read about resettlement agencies and their work, observing their operations firsthand through this course provides an invaluable perspective.”

In one project co-created with Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment, Inc. (RISE) in Syracuse, an organization that provides both resettlement and post-resettlement services, students helped to create a Google map with cultural resources for different newcomer populations, so recently arrived refugees can easily find grocery stores that stock culturally relevant foods, religious centers, translators, and other important resources. 

“The refugee resettlement landscape is complex and many of us working at the grassroots level are on shoe-string budgets dealing with the immediate needs of the community,” said Richard Whitson, Director of Development at RISE. “The Cornell students come with open minds and skills and they leave with a better understanding of the challenges facing refugees.”

Another recent project with The Center for Refugees in Utica focused on students researching common vocations of the countries of origin of new arrivals and providing analysis of regional employment opportunities and labor shortages that aligned with the skillsets of the arriving refugee populations. 

Ficarra hopes the connections the students make with their community partners and the day-to-day realities facing resettled refugee communities foster a deeper understanding and connection with the issues.

“The point of the course is to explore how policy shapes the lives of refugees around the world,” said Ficarra. “But along the way, working side by side with refugee communities here in Upstate NY, the students gain something more important, which is the desire to affect change and an understanding of how difficult, but vital, resettlement work is and just how much refugees and immigrants contribute to our local communities.”

Giles Morris is the assistant dean for communications in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.