Kimberly Salazar 

Research Assistant

Urban Institute

Former Student Parent

Kimberly Salazar is a research assistant at the Urban Institute, where she supports projects that strengthen opportunities for student parents and families in higher education. Her work focuses on qualitative research, policy analysis, and providing technical assistance to colleges and state agencies on improving data collection and support systems for parenting students. Kimberly also brings her own experience as a former student parent, which informs her research and ability to bridge policy and practice. She has contributed to initiatives with the Aspen Institute, Higher Learning Advocates, and the Michelson 20MM Foundation, and has shared her expertise at national convenings on higher education and family support programs. In addition, Kimberly served as an advisor with Learning Heroes, a national nonprofit that helps families and schools work together to support student learning; a consultant for the Young Parent Collective, a network elevating the voices and leadership of young parents; and a member of the working board for the SPARK Collaborative, a national effort to strengthen research and leadership by and for student parents. 

Kimberly earned her bachelor’s degree of arts in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated summa cum laude and completed a senior honors thesis on student parents in the CalWORKs program navigating four-year institutions. During her time at Berkeley, she was selected as a Haas Scholar, URAP Fellow, and Miller Scholar, securing competitive grants to support original research on welfare-to-work programs and higher education. She also co-authored a publication with Associate Professor Dr. Yu-Ling Chang at the School of Social Welfare examining CalWORKs policies during the COVID-19 crisis. Prior to Berkeley, Kimberly completed her associate in arts in sociology for Transfer at Rio Hondo College, where she graduated with honors through the Sociology Transfer Program. Across her academic career, she developed strong training in research methods and social policy, building a foundation that she now applies to practical challenges facing students and families.