About
Margaret Heisel is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE) at the University of California, Berkeley. With over three decades in higher education leadership, her career spans research, policy development, and academic administration. She previously served as Founding Director of the Center for Capacity Building in Study Abroad—a joint initiative of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and NAFSA—focusing on global curricula, pedagogical strategies, and international education policy for U.S. students.
Her academic background includes faculty appointments at Louisiana State University, Middlebury College, and the University of California Davis, where she taught Hispanic history and literature and held Associate Dean roles. She has also held senior roles in the University of California System Office, including Associate Vice Provost for Off-Campus Academic Programs and Executive Director for Undergraduate Outreach.
Heisel’s research interests emphasize international education accessibility, global competency development, and institutional strategies for diversity in study abroad programs. She has contributed to policy frameworks for colleges and universities nationwide through her work with organizations like Diversity Abroad and the International Student Exchange Program. Her career reflects a commitment to bridging academic innovation with practical educational equity initiatives.
