Yunuen Rodriguez, MA,MSW

Yunuen Rodriguez Rodriguez is a doctoral student at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Her research focuses on understanding the drivers of emigration among undocumented individuals in the U.S. She examines the factors that prompt their departure and how they fare post-exit. Her work aims to examine the connection between leaving the U.S. and the well-being of undocumented populations. Through her qualitative research, she highlights the critical role of government in shaping migration patterns, and frames exit as a strategy of resistance in xenophobic political climates to improve well-being.

Before pursuing her doctorate, Rodriguez Rodriguez worked on reunifying unaccompanied minors with their families in the U.S. She also served as a consultant, ensuring the implementation of organizational policies that addressed the needs of unaccompanied children and the staff responsible for their care. She earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Beloit College, an AM in Sociology, and later an AM in Clinical Social Work, both from The University of Chicago.