Our People
Iqbal Atwal
Director of Learning
Iqbal Atwal is the director of learning at EdInsights, 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.
Iqbal also serves as co-principal investigator for the US Department of Education’s HSI-STEM Grant at California State University, Stanislaus, where he leads multimillion-dollar initiatives that improve STEM retention, strengthen community college transfer pathways, expand workforce preparation, and advance 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 degree in 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.