Carson Byrd

Carson Byrd is an Associate Research Scientist and LEO Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher & Postsecondary Education (CSHPE). His work focuses on systemic racism in higher education, STEM equity, and critical quantitative methods. Byrd holds a PhD and MA in Sociology from Virginia Tech and a BA from Mars Hill College. He previously served as a Senior Fellow at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and as an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville.

His research examines racial disparities in STEM education, the impact of affirmative action bans, and the role of institutional microclimates in perpetuating inequities. Byrd has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Spencer Foundation and was a William T. Grant Fellow. He is the author of Behind the Diversity Numbers and co-editor of Intersectionality and Higher Education, with articles in high-impact journals like Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and Equity & Excellence in Education.

Byrd teaches courses on power, privilege, and race in higher education, including EDUC 672 and EDUC 873. His work bridges academia and public discourse, with essays in outlets like the Washington Post and Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Key Research Themes: Racialization in science, intersectionality, and policy impacts on marginalized groups
• Awards: William T. Grant Advanced Quantitative and Computational Scholar
• Grants: NSF, Spencer Foundation