معرفی
Dr. Erin Castro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and serves as Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Access in the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah. She co-founded the University of Utah Prison Education Project (2016) and launched the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison (2017). Her work focuses on equity in higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated populations, policy analysis, and critical pedagogy.
- Education: PhD in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale; BS in Business Administration.
Research Interests: Dr. Castro’s scholarship examines equity in prison education, the impact of criminal history questions in admissions, transfer student experiences, and anti-racist praxis. Her work addresses how institutional policies perpetuate marginalization and proposes reforms for inclusive practices.
Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize data equity, disciplinary power in prisons, and funding challenges post-Pell restoration. Her work bridges policy analysis with on-the-ground experiences, often centering voices of incarcerated students and marginalized communities.
- Scientific Awards:
- Lieutenant Governor’s Public Service Award (2024)
- College of Education Research Award (2024)
- Early Career Teaching Award (2017)
Grants: She has secured external funding, including a Center for Prison Education Planning Grant (2023-2025) and travel grants to support conferences. Her grants often focus on expanding access and equity for formerly incarcerated and foster care populations.
Labs & Teams: Dr. Castro leads the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison and co-founded the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. She collaborates with national organizations like the Lumina Foundation and Alliance for Higher Education in Prison.
