Carla Brailey

Carla Brailey, Ph.D., serves as a Nonresidential Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, focusing on the development of a maternal health hub aimed at addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes. As an Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas Southern University since 2010, Carla specializes in social inequality with an emphasis on Black maternal health, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in various sociology topics. Notably, Carla made history as the first African American woman to run as a Democratic Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 2021 and has held significant leadership positions, including Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party and Executive Director in the Office of Community Affairs under Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. With an extensive academic background including multiple degrees from Howard University, Carla's career encompasses roles in higher education, community service, and political advocacy.