“We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. For we have been socialized to respect fear more than our own needs for language and definition, and while we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of that silence will choke us.”
Corinne Castro, Ph.D.
I am an advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice. My professional interests stem from my own experiences as a first generation, Chicanx academic, navigating universities that were not historically created for me. My research, teaching, and professional service reflect a calling to transform social institutions, such as higher education, to be more equitable and inclusive, allowing people from minoritized communities to thrive.
Professional Background: I am a sociologist who has spent my career in the borderlands of the academy--as a critic and outsider, but still invested in seeing it change. Currently, I am the Senior Director for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion at Rutgers University--The State University of New Jersey. Previously, I was an Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas Lutheran University (TLU), a private liberal arts university in Seguin, TX. I earned my PhD in sociology and a graduate certificate in women’s studies from Temple University in 2012.
Areas of consulting expertise: Diversity strategic planning; Culture and climate survey research; Recruitment & retention of minoritized communities; Higher education policy and practice; Culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Sample publications, awards, or accomplishments:
Castro, C. (2020). [Review of Degendering Leadership in Higher Education by Barret Katuna]. Gender & Society 34(6). pp. 1040–1042.
Zambrana, R., Ray, R., Espino, M., Castro, C., Cohen, B., and Eliason, J. (2015) “ ‘Don’t Leave Us Behind’: The Importance of Mentoring for Underrepresented Minority Faculty.” American Education Research Journal; V. 52:1. pp. 40-72.
Castro, C. (2014) “Characteristics and Perceptions of Women of Color Faculty Nationally.” In Disrupting the Culture of Silence: Confronting Gender Inequality and Making Change in Higher Education, edited by Kris De Welde and Andi Stepnick. Stylus Publishing.
Texas Lutheran University Verner Gembler Endowed Fellowship 2018-2020
Texas Lutheran University Servant Leader of the Year Award 2017-18
Texas Lutheran University Harold D. Bier Teaching Award 2017-18
Texas Lutheran University SGA Faculty Member of the Year 2016-17
