Welcome Dr. Esmeralda Sanchez Salazar
The Sociology Department at William and Mary is thrilled to welcome Dr. Esmeralda Sánchez Salazar to its faculty! Dr. Sánchez Salazar holds a B.A. in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs & Spanish, from Southern Methodist University, an M.S. in Applied Sociology from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a Ph.D. from Rice University. She currently holds a position of Postdoctoral Fellow of Sociology and Criminology and Postdoctoral Affiliate of the Population Research Institute (PRI) at Penn State University, and will join the faculty at W&M in Fall 2025.
Dr. Sánchez Salazar’s research focuses on the areas of race and ethnicity, stratification and inequality, education, and religion. Her work specifically examines how educational, familial, religious institutions, and the state intersect to shape racial and ethnic stratification in higher education, science, and the labor market.
Dr. Sánchez Salazar is eager to join the William & Mary community. Her commitment to her research is deeply personal. Growing up in a social economically disadvantaged immigrant neighborhood in Texas profoundly shaped her passion for understanding and addressing inequalities. This lived experience informs her work and provides a unique perspective that will undoubtedly enrich our department and benefit our students. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Sánchez Salazar is an avid traveler, and she recently picked up crocheting!
Sociology extends a warm welcome to Dr. Sánchez Salazar!