For our second interview in a series profiling Canadian Studies' friends and supporters, we sat down with board member Pavan Dhillon to learn about what drew her to the program and what she hopes to accomplish on the board.
Give us some background - what’s your connection to Canada?
My connection to Canada stems first and foremost from being born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. I also have the unique perspective of being one of a handful of Canadian immigration attorneys based in the United States. Therefore I am fortunate to promote Canada on a daily basis to both individuals and companies seeking opportunities, stability, diversity, and tolerance. Although qualified to practice law in both Canada and the United States, I launched a boutique Canadian immigration law firm in San Francisco, focused exclusively on facilitating permanent relocation or cross-border travel to Canada. My passion for immigration law really begins with my parents' immigrant journey to Canada, and comes full circle with my own experience as a Canadian expat in the United States.
In addition to being raised in an immigrant community, my educational pursuits consistently revolved around international affairs, immigration, and policy. I pursued a bachelor's degree in international relations at the University of British Columbia, with a concentration in international diplomacy, security, and peace studies. I went on to graduate from McGill University's transsystemic civil and common law program in 2004. I have been fortunate to experience a bi-coastal lifestyle with lengthy stints in various Canadian and American cities, including Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Boston, and San Francisco. I immigrated to the United States in 2012, when I presented my own immigration application at the port of entry. I did not set out to become an immigration attorney; however, as I began my career, I quickly realized how my ability to empathize with my clients not only transforms their experience but also provides me with immeasurable fulfillment.
How did you first get involved with Canadian Studies at UC Berkeley?
My first ever Canadian event in the Bay Area was the Canadian Studies and Digital Moose Lounge annual Thanksgiving event. The first conversation I had at the event was with program co-director and faculty chair, Irene Bloemraad, and we had a lengthy discussion about the immigrant experience in Canada compared to the United States. She invited me to attend upcoming colloquia and a lecture regarding a comparative analysis of US and Canadian immigration policy at Berkeley. Attending that event and other symposia revitalized my interest in Canadian Studies and led to me ultimately joining the advisory board.
What do you think makes this program special?
I have always been fascinated by the interplay between policy and Canada-US relations and how immigration policy shapes societies, cultures, and the political landscape. One of the things I enjoy the most about Canadian Studies at Berkeley is the colloquia, as it exposes me to cutting-edge research and innovative studies. I value the opportunity by connecting with thought leaders in migration studies, indigenous affairs, politics and sociology. These events fuel thought-provoking and enriching discussions about contemporary issues in Canadian Studies. I also really enjoy our annual Thanksgiving event, which brings together Canadians across the Bay Area to build a sense of community. I am also excited about the seamless transition to online programming, which allows for more diverse and long-term engagement.
What are your goals and priorities as a member of the board?
As my first year as a member of the Advisory Board came to a close, I enjoyed supporting several initiatives and being part of the Canadian ecosystem. I serve as the co-chair of the Finance and Communications Committee, along with our board chair, David Stewart. Amy Widdowson, David and I are focused on revamping the Canadian Studies communications strategy to promote awareness of the program. Our goal is to articulate our mission, values, and priorities to foster greater community engagement. With exciting new initiatives to support original research projects, including our first-ever post-doc, I'm looking forward to the upcoming online events!