Dr. Carson Byrd

Biography

Carson Byrd is an Associate Research Scientist and Adjunct Associate Professor in Sociology (by courtesy) at the University of Michigan. He serves as the Faculty Associate Director for Research Analysis & Data Integration in the Office of the Vice President for Research. His research focuses on the mechanisms of racism in higher education and broader society, particularly the racialization of knowledge production and critical quantitative approaches to improving the study of social inequalities. His current work examines the impacts of affirmative action bans on intersectional inequalities and explores how departmental microclimates in STEM fields influence racial inequities. Byrd has received funding from notable organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the Spencer Foundation. He is the author of several key works, including 'Diversity Numbers: Achieving Racial Equity on Campus' and 'Poison Ivy: Race Relations and the Reproduction of Inequality on Elite College Campuses'. Byrd's work is published in various prestigious journals and he contributes public essays on racial inequalities in higher education to major outlets. He earned his doctorate and master’s degree in Sociology from Virginia Tech and his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Mars Hill College.

Research Interests