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Iqbal Atwal is the director of learning at EdInsights, which facilitates the Network, where he leads and supports professional learning initiatives designed to strengthen institutional capacity, improve student transitions, and advance equity-focused practices across California’s education systems. A first-generation college graduate and the son of immigrant parents, Iqbal’s commitment to educational equity is grounded in lived experience and in positions held across all four public education systems in California—K–12, community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California.
Before joining EdInsights, he served as director and principal investigator for two U.S. Department of Education HSI-STEM grants at California State University, Stanislaus, where he led multimillion-dollar initiatives that improved STEM retention, strengthened community college transfer pathways, expanded workforce preparation, and advanced institutional practices that support first-generation and low-income students. His earlier work at UC Merced focused on graduate recruitment, student success, and high-impact programming for diverse student populations. Iqbal holds a master's of public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science from CSU Stanislaus. His professional interests include strengthening student sense of belonging, improving educational transitions, building career pathways, and supporting evidence-based institutional improvement. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, exploring the state of California, and spending time with his family.
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