Carrie B. Kisker, Ph.D., is a leading figure in higher education reform, an area where the stakes are high and the potential for meaningful change is immense. With over two decades of experience, Carrie’s vision centers on a crucial yet often overlooked need: connecting academic research with the practical realities of community college leadership. Her work is reshaping how educational leaders engage with both scholarship and strategy to introduce new ideas on their campuses.
Carrie’s influence in the community college sector extends through two key roles. As the founder of Kisker Education Consulting, she provides strategic insights and solutions, advising leaders on how to better support student success and act in innovative and entrepreneurial ways. Simultaneously, she leads the Center for the Study of Community Colleges, a nonprofit organization that researches the essential role these institutions play in American higher education. Through these dual platforms, Carrie delivers on her mission to strengthen the impact of community colleges across the country.
What sets Carrie apart is her ability to turn academic research into accessible, actionable strategies and solutions that community college leaders can use to improve student success and institutional performance. This rare talent has made her a sought-after consultant and keynote speaker, and her insights for both institutional leaders and businesses seeking to partner with community colleges are shaping the future for community colleges and the broader field of American education.
Over the years, Carrie has consistently proven her dedication to the community college mission. Her strategic consulting work began in 2006, and in 2010, she founded Kisker Education Consulting to give leaders the tools they need to better serve students and communities. Carrie is also a prolific author, having written three books on higher education, including the most recent edition of The American Community College, a cornerstone text for educators and policymakers alike.
Carrie’s approach to educational leadership is not only strategic but also deeply philosophical. She believes that higher education plays a critical role in preserving democracy and that community colleges, in particular, have a duty to prepare students for engagement in their communities as well as for success in the workforce. Through her books, speeches, and research, Carrie challenges educational leaders to think deeply about how their institutions can navigate everyday challenges while serving students and communities in ways that lead to a more just and equitable society.
Carrie’s contributions to the field of higher education have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, her leadership earned her the Arthur M. Cohen and Florence B. Brawer Award for Distinguished Service to the community college scholarly community, a recognition that underscores her commitment to bridging research and practice. She’s also delivered keynote addresses at notable conferences, including the Community College Futures Assembly, where her speeches inspire leaders to consider how community colleges can evolve to meet modern challenges.
Despite her success, one of Carrie’s greatest challenges has been expanding her influence, as much of her work is based on her unique scholarship and personal engagement with leaders. Thus, in recent years, she has begun partnering with other scholars and organizations to extend her reach, both through Kisker Education Consulting and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges. Through these collaborations, Carrie aims to develop an infrastructure to support greater connections between community college leaders and scholars and to highlight the contributions community colleges and their students make to America’s economy and democracy.
To this end, Carrie welcomes opportunities to speak with higher education policymakers, philanthropists, business groups, and other audiences, seeking new and equitable ways to drive educational attainment and workforce development. By forging stronger partnerships and expanding her personal brand as a thought leader, Carrie is well-positioned to continue reshaping the community college sector.
To learn more about Carrie’s work or to invite her to speak at your next event, visit Kisker Education Consulting or the Center for the Study of Community Colleges.
Published By: Aize Perez
