Nick Dreher

Nick Dreher is a PhD candidate in policy studies and migration at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is also a researcher with Bridging Divides, CERC Migration and Integration, and the Soli*City partnership. His dissertation research focuses on how international and local actors collaborate to support the needs of precarious migrants and refugees. Other research interests include transnational migration governance, digital nomads and the future of work, qualitative methodologies, and decolonial approaches to migration studies.  

Prior to his PhD, Nick worked in non-profit and higher education settings in a variety of roles including program coordination, teaching, and research. This included roles with community organizations supporting migrants and refugees in South Africa, Uganda, and several cities in the United States. Nick has also led and participated in strategic planning initiatives and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion programmes at various institutions. He currently serves on the steering committee for the Global (De)Centre (external link) , a network dedicated to rethinking and decolonizing the ways we produce and share knowledge on migration, teaching, the arts, and more.

Recent Publications

With Bauder, H. (2025). Migrant and refugee solidarity in European cities: A meta-synthesis of key themes and approaches (external link) . Cities. 

With Triandafyllidou, A. (2025). Understanding digital nomadism: a three-level framework for migration studies. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 1–20.

With Bauder, H., Lujan, O., Asolo, O. (2025). “Decolonising Urban Hospitality, Sanctuary, and Solidarity: Considering Buen Vivir and Ubuntu (external link) .” In Urban Migrant Inclusion and Refugee Protection - Volume 1: Frontiers of Sanctuary, Solidarity, and Hospitality. Bauder, H. and Setrana, M. (eds). IMISCOE Research Series. 

With Nalbandian L. (2023). Current methodological approaches in studying the use of advanced digital technologies in migration management (external link) . Frontiers in Human Dynamics.

Report

With Gutiérrez, M. (2025). Sanctuary and Resistance 2025: Evolving Strategies in an Uncertain Landscape (Policy Report). Soli*City Research Network and Zolberg Institute for Migration and Mobility. 

(2024).  (PDF file) Making Migrant Solidarity in Cities: Successful Local Patterns and Approaches. (external link)  Moving Cities Policy Report.

Media

Stapf, T. (Host). (2024, December 12). Lucia Nalbandian and Nick Dreher, CERC Migration on the Migration Tech Tracker (No. 8) (external link)  [Audio podcast episode]. In Digital Arrival City.

With Nalbandian, L., (2022). Canada needs to consider the user experience of migrants when designing programs that impact them (external link) , The Conversation.