Jason De Leon: podcast appearances and interviews

Jason De León is an anthropologist specializing in the study of migration from Latin America to the United States, with a focus on clandestine migrants crossing the Mexico–United States border. He holds the Loyd E. Cotsen Endowed Chair of Archaeology and serves as the Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to his academic roles, De León is a professor of Anthropology, Chicana/o Studies, and Central American Studies at UCLA. He is also the Executive Director of the Undocumented Migration Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and raising awareness about global migration issues through research, arts, and education. Since 2009, De León has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, where he collects artifacts left behind by migrants seeking entry into the United States. His work has gained recognition, including being named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2013 and a MacArthur Fellow in 2017. The Undocumented Migration Project has amassed over 9000 objects related to migration, some of which are displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. His research contributes valuable insights into migration patterns and the material culture associated with border-crossing experiences.