Sociology Professor Earns Accolades from the American Sociological Association

Associate Professor of Sociology Maryann Bylander’s book titled The Trade-Offs of Legal Status: Safe Migration, Documentation, and Debt in Southeast Asia has earned an honorable mention in the 2025 Thomas and Znaniecki Best Book competition of the American Sociological Association. 

The book uncovers how efforts to provide Cambodian migrants with legal status to provide much-needed labor in Thailand end up harming rather than helping Cambodian workers and their families.

Using the example of Southeast Asia, Bylander provides insights and information that provide a useful framework for understanding political and economic impacts of cross-border migrations around the globe.

Learn more about Associate Professor of Sociology and SOAN Department Chair Maryann Bylander.