Dr. Orlando Carreón

INVITED Speaker

Dr. Carreón is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies at Sonoma State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of California, Davis, as well as a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is an equity- driven educational consultant and scholar-practitioner with over 25 years of experience across K–12 and higher education.

His scholarship and practice are grounded in decolonial and social justice frameworks that examine how race, language, culture, ideology, and power shape educational experiences for BIPOC and other historically subordinated communities. His work spans teacher education and educational leadership, with a focus on community-responsive practices, including Grow Your Own Educator initiatives that prepare bilingual and bicultural students to teach in their own communities. As an HSI leader, he develops culturally sustaining pre-professional pathways grounded in frameworks and traditions that center the experiences of Latinx students. His areas of interest include Latinos in Education, Ethnic Studies, culturally sustaining leadership and teaching, and advocacy in teacher education.

Dr. Carreón began his career as a middle school teacher in Napa Valley, where he taught Language Arts and Social Studies in Spanish and English, as well as English Language Development to immigrant youth. He was awarded the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity and Community for his social justice leadership at UC Davis. He is the son of immigrant parents with roots in Guerrero, Mexico, and currently lives in Napa with his life partner, Angela, and their two daughters, Florentina and Camila.