Carmen Serrata

Postdoctoral Fellow in Higher Education at UNC Charlotte

Carmen Serrata is an Assistant Profesor in Higher Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Carmen’s research centers on the postsecondary experiences of marginalized student populations and the influence of families along pathways to higher education. Her research also explores the intersection of college access and race, immigration, and citizenship. Over the last 15 years, Carmen has served in various leadership roles to promote college readiness and college opportunity pathways to first-generation, low-income students. Carmen’s research and practice spans the P-20 continuum and leans on asset-based theories and strategies for supporting students and engaging families in the educational journey. Having been born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MX and raised in South Texas, Carmen embraces the “de aqui y de alla” philosophy of navigating the world as a Gen 1.5 immigrant. Carmen is passionate about immigration advocacy, language justice, and building black and brown wealth. Outside of work, Carmen enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and thrifting for treasures.