Carlos Casanova

Carlos R. Casanova is an assistant professor of education in the Education Studies program in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. His research interests include social issues and social justice education, and critical education for sustainable development. Specifically, Casanova explores the socio-political context of community-based organizations or afterschool education programs. Casanova’s research focuses on the learning and critical development that takes place as Latinx youth participate in conscious rising and culturally relevant program activities. Casanova's teaching experiences include undergraduate courses in sociological theory, social problems, and social justice education.

Throughout his own schooling experience in a working-class community in Southeastern Michigan, Casanova did not see Latinx teachers, and the school curriculum was not culturally responsive or inclusive. As a result, Casanova became actively involved in community based organizations, working as an urban community educator in Michigan, the historic Mexican-American westside of San Antonio, Texas and Des Moines, Iowa. Casanova has worked with community members and youth of color, particularly Latina/o/x and Chicanx youth, in both nationally-affiliated and grassroots community youth based organizations since 2005.