Education and Work Experience

• Since 09/2023: Freie Universität Berlin, Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script”, Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies, Doctoral Researcher                                                                                                         
• 08/2019-05/2021: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California: M.A in Migration Studies   
• 01/2020-05/2020: Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico: M.A in Migration Studies (Exchange Semester)                                                                                                                                                      
• 09/2017-06/2018: Université Jean Moulin Lyon III, Lyon, France: Certificate in American Law
• 09/2014-06/2018: Université Jean Moulin Lyon III, Lyon, France: Bachelor of Laws LLB, Law and Political Sciences    

Academic Appointments, Scientific Activities & Outreach

• 11/2021-08/2023: Research Associate in Immigration Policy, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
• 01/2021-05/2021: Graduate reader/tutor for “Migration, border geographies and decolonial movements”, University of California, Berkeley
• 06/2020-05/2021: Graduate Student Assistant for Research Project on Women and Catholic Social Thought, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
• 09/2020-12/2020: Teaching Assistant for “Introduction to Chicano/a Literature Survey”, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California

Fellowships, Stipends and Awards

• May 2021: Master’s thesis selected for presentation at Latin American Studies Association Congress
• May 2021: Master’s thesis selected winner of Graduate Student Academic Showcase at the University of San Francisco
• April 2021: Master’s thesis selected for presentation at “Immigration and Social Justice Conference 2021” in San Francisco, California
• February 2020: Research Travel Grant awarded by the Department of Migration Studies at the University of San Francisco
• May 2019: Segal AmeriCorps Education Award awarded by the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service

Key research interests:

• Afromexican/Afrodescendant identity
• Race/racism
• Identity politics
• Minority rights

• Molla, Z. (2023) ‘Practical Solutions To Assist Cities and States Receiving Asylum-Seekers Across the U.S.,’ Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/practical-solutions-to-assist-cities-and-states-receiving-asylum-seekers-across-the-u-s/
• Molla, Z. (2023) ‘Improving Language Access in the U.S. Asylum System’, Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/improving-language-access-in-the-u-s-asylum-system/
• Molla, Z. (2023) ‘The Experiences of Black African and Haitian Migrants Forced to Remain in Mexico Due to Restrictive U.S. And Mexican Immigration Policies’, Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration. Available at https://oxfordmonitor.wixsite.com/website-1
• Mathema, S. and Molla, Z. (2022) ‘Taking Migration Seriously: Real Solutions to Complex Challenges at the Border’, Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/taking-migration-seriously-real-solutions-to-complex-challenges-at-the-border/
• Molla, Z. (2022) ‘Ending the Title 42 Expulsion Policy Is the Right Thing to Do’, Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/ending-the-title-42-expulsion-policy-is-the-right-thing-to-do/
• Mathema, S. and Molla, Z. (2022) ‘The Urgency of Designating Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status’, Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-urgency-of-designating-cameroon-for-temporary-protected-status/
• Svajlenka, N, Truong, T., Molla, Z. et al. (2022) ‘What the European Union and United States Need to Do to Address the Migration Crisis in Ukraine’, Center for American Progress. Available at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/what-the-european-union-and-united-states-need-to-do-to-address-the-migration-crisis-in-ukraine/