In the intricate maze of higher education, where shifting policies and funding shortages often determine an institution’s fate, community colleges emerge as steadfast pillars of resilience. At the heart of this vital sector stands Dr. Carrie B. Kisker, a dynamic consultant, scholar, and tireless advocate whose work bridges the chasm between academic research and practical implementation. For over two decades, Kisker has dedicated her career to ensuring that colleges not only survive but thrive, fostering environments where students from all backgrounds can access education and achieve meaningful success.
Carrie B. Kisker, Ph.D., is more than a name in the corridors of academia; she is a force for change. Through her consulting firm, Kisker Education Consulting, and her leadership of the nonprofit Center for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC), she transforms research and data into actionable strategies. Her focus is clear: empower college leaders and faculty to navigate the complexities of strategic change and innovation, particularly within community colleges, which she aptly describes as the engines of social mobility.
Turning Vision into Action
Kisker’s mission is both simple and profound: to connect academic research with practical solutions that enable community colleges and other higher education institutions to excel. She believes that understanding and addressing the unique needs of the community each institution serves is essential for creating successful environments for both students and faculty. To this end, she provides senior administrators, trustees, and faculty leaders with strategic insights aimed at overcoming resource constraints, adapting to policy shifts, and implementing creative practices to support student success.
Her approach is hands-on and deeply collaborative. From hosting strategic workshops to delivering keynote speeches, Kisker equips leaders with the tools they need to tackle challenges head-on. She emphasizes that higher education research is most valuable when it leads directly to practical solutions that benefit students. This conviction drives her to ensure that every strategy she advocates is not only evidence-based but also tailored to the specific cultural and institutional contexts of the colleges she serves.
What sets Kisker apart is her ability to translate complex research into actionable steps. One notable consulting project involved analyzing institutional data to address equity gaps in course completion rates. By collaborating with faculty and administrators, she facilitated the redesign of curricula and the enhancement of student support services. Her approach seamlessly blends insight with empathy, emphasizing the human stories behind the data. This balance of compassion and authority reinforces her position as a trusted leader in educational reform.
Cultivating Change: The Seed of Transformation
As a consultant, Kisker often plants the seeds of change without witnessing their full bloom firsthand. Her influence begins with shifting mindsets—encouraging community college leaders to embrace the core values of their institution and adopt an innovative mindset. “When faculty, staff, and trustees can connect with what is truly important to them, to students, and to their community, and feel supported in taking calculated risks, they are freed up to begin experimenting with innovative solutions to improve student support, success, and institutional functioning,” she explains. This focus on needs (met and unmet), as well as collective goals and guideposts, empowers faculty and administrators to design and implement supportive and dynamic learning environments.
Carrie’s dedication to community colleges stems from her recognition of their significant capacity to impact lives positively. “Community colleges are often overlooked, underfunded, and discounted by legislators and the public alike,” she notes, “yet they provide the programs and pathways that enable social mobility for 40% of undergraduates in America, including the most vulnerable in our society.” This commitment drives her to advocate tirelessly for these institutions, ensuring they receive the attention and resources needed to fulfill their critical role in the educational landscape.
Beyond Consultancy: Building Collaborative Frameworks
Kisker’s influence extends beyond individual institutions through her role at the Center for the Study of Community Colleges. Under her stewardship, CSCC has become a hub for collaboration among scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. One current project, the ACCT/CSCC Survey of Community College Trustees, is the first national survey of its kind in over 25 years. This comprehensive questionnaire delves into the beliefs, values, and perspectives of trustees, shedding light on how they navigate today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. The forthcoming results, slated for publication in 2025, promise to inform professional development programs and guide community college leaders in fostering institutional growth.
Under Kisker’s leadership, CSCC recently began collaborating with the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University and ICPSR at the University of Michigan to develop the Community College Data Hub, a collection of datasets and data-related publications associated with community colleges and their constituents that can be used by a broad range of scholars and educators for secondary analysis and institutional improvement. By increasing awareness and utilization of community college scholarship, Kisker and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges ensure that data-driven insights are accessible and actionable, fostering a community of informed and inspired educational leaders.
Authorship: Guiding Emerging Leaders and Graduate Students
Beyond her consulting and leadership roles, Dr. Kisker is a prolific author whose books serve as essential roadmaps for emerging college leaders and graduate students. Her publications translate the latest empirical findings into accessible guides, providing comprehensive overviews of contemporary research and practical experiences from the field. Notably, her most often-cited book, The American Community College (7th edition, 2023), co-authored with Arthur M. Cohen and Florence B. Brawer, has become a cornerstone text for educators and policymakers alike. This seminal work delves into the evolving role of community colleges in the United States, offering critical insights into their capacity to drive social mobility and economic opportunity.
In 2024, she published a revised edition of The Shaping of American Higher Education (3rd edition, 2024), also with Arthur M. Cohen, which traces the evolution of the country’s contemporary higher education system. This work is frequently taught in schools of education and provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities colleges and universities face today.
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, Kisker 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.
Looking Ahead: The Power of Thought Leadership
Kisker’s influence shows no signs of waning. On January 15, 2025, she and two colleagues, Drs. Erin Doran and Brett Ranon Nachman will launch “Spotlight on Community Colleges,” a podcast aimed at educators, policymakers, and scholars. This platform will serve as a conduit for researchers and practitioners to share success stories, explore pressing challenges, and ignite conversations about the future of community colleges. “Spotlight on Community Colleges” (available wherever you get your podcasts) is poised to amplify Kisker’s mission, reaching a broader audience and providing fresh perspectives that draw on both research and practice.
Join the Movement
Carrie Kisker’s work offers a roadmap for institutions seeking to innovate and thrive in an ever-changing educational landscape. For national associations and educational foundations, partnering with Kisker Education Consulting or the Center for the Study of Community Colleges represents an opportunity to drive meaningful change in higher education. By exploring the insights and success stories showcased in her books and by connecting with her directly, institutions can embark on a journey toward transformation.
In championing community colleges, Dr. Carrie B. Kisker ensures that the doors of opportunity remain open for millions of students. Her relentless pursuit of bridging research and practice not only informs and inspires higher education professionals but also underscores how well-conducted, thoughtfully implemented research can have a profound impact on students across the country.
Published by Anne C.
