Devorah Kalekin-Fishman's research focuses on the broad theme of human rights in late modernity. As educator and researcher, Devorah Kalekin-Fishman has a long-standing interest in the sociology of knowledge, sociological theory with a focus on alienation research, and on the sociology of education, as well as issues of gender. Topics include alienation, education for immigrants and minorities, citizenship, migration, and the impact of macro-processes on everyday life.

Born in the US, she holds a BA from Queens College (CUNY), an MA from the University of Haifa, and a Dr. Rer. Soc. from the University of Konstanz, Germany (adviser: Thoman Luckmann) all magna cum laude. In the Faculty of Education she held several administrative positions. Among others, she headed the subdivision for Educational Sciences in the Department of Education and coordinated the pedagogical staff in the Department of Teaching and Teacher Education. For almost a decade, she conducted and coordinated workshops for Arab and Jewish student-teachers who worked through co-existence issues.

Outside the university, she has been active in the Personal Construct Psychology Network, as well as in the International Association for the Study of Time. A long-time member of the International Sociological Association, she was President of the Research Committee for the Study of Alienation (1994-2002), a member of the Executive Committee for two terms, and Vice-President for Publications (2006-2010).