Esmeralda Sánchez Salazar is a postdoctoral fellow in sociology and criminology and an affiliate of the Population Research Institute at Penn State. In fall 2025, she will join William & Mary as an assistant professor of sociology. Her research examines how institutions—educational, familial, religious, and governmental—intersect to shape racial and ethnic stratification in higher education, science, and the labor market. She uses mixed methods to explore immigrant outcomes in college and employment, racial-ethnic inequalities in science education, and disparities in postsecondary attainment among English learners. Her work is supported by the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation (National Academies), and others.

A first-generation college graduate from an immigrant neighborhood in Dallas, Dr. Sánchez Salazar is committed to research that informs policy and expands access to higher education for underrepresented students. She earned her PhD in sociology from Rice University, an MS from UT Dallas, and a BA from SMU.