Transition at Define American

A message from Define American’s Founder, Jose Antonio Vargas:

Fifteen years ago, I faced the most consequential decision of my life: whether to risk my career as a journalist and my future in the United States by revealing that I was undocumented. I chose to do so, and in the process, I launched Define American. Today, at a moment of unprecedented urgency for immigrant rights, I have decided it is time once again to begin a new chapter for myself and for this organization.

As we celebrate 15 years of impact at Define American, I have made the decision to step down as President of the organization. I am and will remain an active member of Define American’s board.

This has been one of the hardest decisions I have made. I do so, however, with complete confidence in the extraordinary team we have built. Define American has become a leader in narrative change, partnering with journalists, filmmakers, and creators to advance more accurate and human portrayals of immigrants in American culture.

I am excited to return to my roots as a multimedia storyteller and focus on creating content that illuminates how immigrants are re-shaping America and how global migration is transforming societies around the world.

I am making this transition because the fight for immigrant justice increasingly depends on the stories people see, hear, and share. At a time when misinformation spreads faster than facts, powerful storytelling may be the most effective tool we have to build understanding, expand belonging, and shape public discourse. I believe I can make my greatest contribution by creating stories that reach audiences far beyond traditional advocacy spaces.

First up is finishing a second book exploring race, immigration, and belonging—the follow-up to my bestselling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, which was recently named one of the 250 most notable books in U.S. history by the Brooklyn Public Library.

Alongside this book, I look forward to bringing the insights and lessons from Define American into new storytelling projects across journalism, film, television, theater, and emerging media. My goal is to help create stories that are both artistically compelling and deeply grounded in the realities of migration and identity.

I also intend to cultivate my presence on social media, including launching a YouTube channel featuring original reporting, interviews, and stories. As a political reporter covering the 2008 presidential campaign for the Washington Post, I helped pioneer journalism on the platform. Today, YouTube is one of the most influential storytelling platforms in the world, and it offers an unprecedented opportunity to reach audiences with nuanced, authentic stories about immigration and global migration.

As I step down as President, I am heartened to entrust Define American’s leadership to two exceptional colleagues, Shauna Siggelkow and Dr. Sarah Lowe, whose expertise, judgment, and resilience have helped guide Define American’s day-to-day operations for years. Together, we have consulted on more than 160 film and television projects across more than 30 networks and platforms, including Superstore and Grey’s Anatomy; produced groundbreaking research on narrative change; produced Emmy-nominated television and Webby-award winning digital strategies, reached more than 26 million people through influencer collaborations; been recognized two years in a row by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in the world, and helped expand eligibility criteria for prestigious institutions including the Rhodes Scholarship and the Pulitzer Prizes.

Sarah and Shauna have collectively spent nearly two decades at Define American, and in their recent roles as Co-Vice Presidents of the organization, led our staff in producing groundbreaking narrative strategies and media interventions. I am thrilled to share that they will serve as interim Co-Executive Directors as we undertake a thoughtful succession process to identify the organization’s next permanent leader.

My transition comes at a moment of tremendous strength for Define American. As we mark 15 years of impact, the organization is well-positioned to expand its proven model and deepen its influence in the years ahead. With Sarah and Shauna’s leadership, the support of our Board, and the dedication of our team, I am confident Define American will continue to grow, innovate, and shape the future of immigrant storytelling and advocacy for the next 15 years and beyond.

In solidarity,

Jose