Hackley School
University of Pennsylvania Assistant Professor of History Hardeep Dhillon visited Hackley on April 10 as the latest speaker in our Libert Series. She shared with Upper School students on the topic of birthright citizenship, delivering a presentation in Diller Hall, answering questions in a lunchtime Roundtable conversation in the Lindsay Room and visiting several History classes to share her expertise on both the content and process of her scholarship.
“I really appreciated the time Professor Dhillon spent with my ninth graders, who are working on their research papers,” said History Department Chair Chris Loomis. “She took 30 minutes to learn about their projects, shared her own approach as a researcher and gave them thoughtful advice. I was blown away by the genuine connection she developed with the students in just a short visit. They entered class tired and giddy at the very end of a long week, and by the time she left, they were completely engaged and ‘locked in.’ I think it will make a positive impact on their work.”
“It was great to have Professor Dhillon in my ninth grade history class,” added Upper School history teacher Noah Knopf. “My students are in the middle of writing their own research papers right now, and they asked Professor Dhillon some thoughtful questions about her career as a scholar. She shared some personal stories about projects that have excited her and what motivates her in her research. She also spoke about how her passion for studying history comes from her desire to understand how the world got to be the way that it is today.”
Professor Dhillon is a core faculty member in UPenn’s Asian American Studies department. Her research examines how legal status has historically shaped access to rights, resources and privilege in the United States, particularly as a proxy for race in structuring inequality. Her work has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of American History and Modern American History.
According to history teacher Michael Bass, who organized the visit and moderated the Roundtable, “Professor Dhillon was incredibly impressed with our students. They asked insightful questions that demonstrated strong background knowledge and sophisticated critical thinking. Having an expert like Professor Dhillon on campus for an entire day was invigorating.”
Professor Dhillon’s current book project explores how the legal status of immigrant parents has been used to limit their children’s rights — especially birthright citizenship — and how immigrant communities have resisted these restrictions. Focusing on Asian American families after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, her research highlights the lasting impact of these legal battles on U.S. law and politics.
Professor Dhillon has received numerous honors, including the 2026 Early Career Achievement Award from the Association for Asian American Studies, the Vicki L. Ruiz Award and recognition from The Historical Journal. She has also been recognized for excellence in teaching at both the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your generosity during my visit,” Professor Dhillon noted in a correspondence following her visit. “It was an honor to visit Hackley and be in conversation with you in such meaningful ways. Our conversations — which ranged from contemporary U.S. politics and law to the difficulty and value of research and writing, and the importance of history — touched on issues that I care deeply about. It was a pleasure to share those conversations with you and learn further. I wish each of you the best on your research projects, teaching and journeys ahead.”
Professor Dhillon’s visit was made possible by the Jeffrey A. Libert ’73 Endowment, which provides support for projects and activities related to deepening an understanding of the intersection of race, law and the U.S. Constitution.
