The Institute for the Study of Societal Issues (ISSI) is UC Berkeley's hub for interdisciplinary social justice research. Since 1976, the Institute has been fostering qualitative and quantitative interdisciplinary research on the issues central to social stratification and inequality while trainining and supporting new generations of social change scholars.

ISSI is home to:

A phot of three people at a table

ISSI Graduate Fellows Jesús Gutiérrez and Makaela Jones in conversation with Professor Courtney Morris at the May 2025 Breaking Barriers, Building Community symposium.

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ISSI is Hiring!

We're seeking an expert communications coordinator to manage our digital and written communications and outreach!

ISSI is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE: Thomas I. Yamashita Prize: Laura Díaz and Clara Pérez Medina

Recent Stories

My Journey Deep in the Heart of Trump Country

July 24, 2025

Arlie Hochschild, faculty affiliate of the Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies, published an opinion essay in the New York Times. She explains that people in Kentucky's Fifth Distcict seem more committed to Mr. Trump than they had been before despite Trumps' Big Beautiful Bill that will cut services like Medicaid which more than 40% of people in the Fifth District rely on. As for the likely cuts to SNAP and Meals on Wheels, Andrew Scott, a...

Immigration Rights

June 30, 2025

The Asian American Research Center partnered with Chinese for Affirmative Action and many UC Berkeley departments, institutes and centers to hold an event, “F-1 Visa Revocation Updates & Practical Advice for All Immigrants.” The event featured:

Zachary M. Nightingale, a partner at Van Der Hout LLP who specializes in federal litigation and F-1 student visa cases

Olivia Serene Lee, a partner at Minami Tamaki LLP who specializes in H-1B and Green card cases

Vincent Pan, Co-Executive...

Digna Rabia: A Digital Journal in Chicana/o/x Studies

June 20, 2025

A new issue of Digna Rabia: A Digital Journal in Chicana/o/x Studies is now available, edited by Pablo Gonzalez, ISSI Graduate Fellows Program Co-Director. Featuring the work of over fifty students, and a gorgeous cover image by Jesus Barraza, this issue of the journal foregrounds stories of human mobility, stories drawn from families, communities, and campus. As lead editor Dr. Pablo Gonzalez puts it: "Our intention with this journal is to showcase our individual and collective...

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