Tara Zirkel

Tara Zirkel is a director of strategic research at EAB, where she focuses on community colleges. She brings 17 years of experience working in and alongside these institutions to expand opportunities for all students, no matter their starting point. Her commitment to higher education is deeply personal, shaped by her own experience as a first-generation, low-income, transfer student who worked full time while pursuing her degree. At EAB, she leads research on enrollment, retention, and how institutions can better support students with high levels of need.

Within community colleges, she has served both as adjunct faculty and in roles related to student success, enrollment management, and distance learning, such as director of admissions at Community College of Allegheny County (PA) and dean of distance education and education centers at Westmoreland County Community College (PA). Additionally, she has led national initiatives to strengthen community college access at RaiseMe and Education Design Lab.

Zirkel holds a Doctorate of Education in higher education administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.