At 23, Salenah Cartier has added another record to her name.
The Houston woman has become the youngest PhD graduate at the University of Houston, earning a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, according to school records dating back to 2007.
Cartier, an African American woman from Houston, focuses her work on improving learning access for underserved communities. Her research and academic work centre on education and how it shapes opportunity, with a continued focus on learning systems that reach communities with fewer resources.
“Education is the foundation of society, and I wholeheartedly believe that empowering underserved communities through education and technology, we can unlock a bucket of potential in those spaces,” Cartier told ABC 13.
Her academic path moved quickly. In 2020, Cartier became the University of Houston’s youngest graduate after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at age 17. She then completed a master’s degree in education by age 18.
Each milestone led to her doctorate in education, with a consistent focus on curriculum and instruction. The university said Cartier also shares her story in a university video, where she discusses her motivation and offers advice to students pursuing similar goals.
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