The Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung has awarded Zak Reimer a Bundeskanzler-Stipendium which enables him to become a part of SSW. Starting in the Autumn of 2019, Zak will conduct research into grassroots refugee integration in Germany as well as contribute to our projects. He will stay a year.
Zak grew up in the state of Montana, USA and first became interested in the subject of migration after studying the issue at the US/Mexico border in 2016. In 2017, Zak began work with refugees at the newly opened office of the International Rescue Committee in Missoula, Montana. While working to help the community welcome refugees, Zak began asking the questions that led him to pursue his research in partnership with Social Science Works: chiefly, what factors strengthen the role a community plays in integrating refugees and how can successful programs in Germany be replicated in the US?
Zak holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Montana State University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Montana. His other areas of research interest include childhood development, economic justice, and conflict mediation.