EAB Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

EAB has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, financial oversight, technology development, marketing, and operational management.

Committed to advancing educational equity and institutional success, EAB delivers evidence-based research and implementation support to schools and universities globally, fostering sustainable improvements in student outcomes and organizational effectiveness.

Leadership Roles at EAB

  • Chief Executive Officer - David Felsenthal
  • Chief Financial Officer - Michael Kirshbaum
  • Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services - Lauren Richter
  • Chief Technology Officer - James Mathews
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Lia Davidson
  • Senior Director and Chief of Staff - Meredith Schatz
  • Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Adult Learner Recruitment - Patricia Hege
  • Business Solutions Managing Director & Chief of Staff - Anneke Strachan
  • Community & Technical Colleges Chief of Staff - Joseph DiVirgilio
  • Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Enroll360 - Ashley Huffman
  • David Felsenthal - Chief Executive Officer

    David Felsenthal, the Chief Executive Officer at EAB, directs the overarching strategic vision and long-term growth trajectory for the organization. Felsenthal oversees the alignment of research-backed solutions with the evolving needs of K-12 and higher education institutions across North America. By prioritizing collaborative partnerships, the Chief Executive Officer ensures that every initiative translates complex data into actionable institutional improvements. This leadership role involves constant engagement with the Board to refine resource allocation and program design. Through the promotion of evidence-based strategies, David Felsenthal drives the company mission to enhance student outcomes and institutional effectiveness. Felsenthal maintains a focus on scaling operations to meet the diverse challenges faced by modern educators. By fostering a culture of innovation and practical feasibility, the Chief Executive Officer secures the market position of the firm as a primary partner for educational transformation and sustainable academic success.
    David Felsenthal

    Michael Kirshbaum - Chief Financial Officer

    Michael Kirshbaum, the Chief Financial Officer at EAB, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies necessary to support the company's research-intensive business model. Kirshbaum oversees financial planning, reporting, and risk management to ensure the organization maintains the capacity to deliver high-quality toolkits and frameworks to educational partners. By analyzing market trends and operational costs, the Chief Financial Officer optimizes resource distribution across various departments. This leadership role requires close coordination with other C-suite members to align budgetary priorities with long-term growth objectives. Michael Kirshbaum drives financial transparency and accountability, which directly supports the development of workforce readiness programs and campus safety initiatives. Through rigorous financial oversight, Kirshbaum ensures that the firm remains agile in responding to the unique economic circumstances of diverse educational institutions. The Chief Financial Officer maintains a focus on sustainable revenue growth while upholding the core mission of improving institutional effectiveness.

    Lauren Richter - Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services

    Lauren Richter, the Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services at EAB, directs the comprehensive enrollment strategies that help universities achieve their recruitment and diversity goals. Richter oversees the integration of data-driven insights into the enrollment process, ensuring that institutions can effectively manage their incoming classes. By leading the enrollment services division, the Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services ensures that all strategies are grounded in rigorous research and practical feasibility. This leadership role involves coordinating with other departments to align enrollment efforts with broader institutional effectiveness goals. Lauren Richter drives the development of innovative recruitment frameworks that improve student access and success. Through the application of evidence-based practices, Richter supports the firm's mission to address critical challenges in higher education. The Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services maintains a focus on delivering customized support that respects the unique circumstances of each partner institution.

    James Mathews - Chief Technology Officer

    James Mathews, the Chief Technology Officer at EAB, architects the digital infrastructure and data platforms that power the company's research-driven solutions. Mathews oversees the development of comprehensive toolkits and software frameworks designed to improve student outcomes and institutional effectiveness. By integrating advanced analytics into the service delivery model, the Chief Technology Officer enables educators to translate complex data into actionable insights. This leadership role involves managing technical teams to ensure the security and scalability of campus safety protocols and enrollment systems. James Mathews drives the digital transformation of the firm, ensuring that all technological implementations reflect both academic rigor and practical feasibility. Through the continuous refinement of digital tools, Mathews supports the broader mission of helping institutions navigate critical challenges. The Chief Technology Officer maintains a focus on leveraging technology to enhance the collaborative partnership between the firm and its diverse network of educational clients.
    James Mathews

    Lia Davidson - Chief Marketing Officer

    Lia Davidson, the Chief Marketing Officer at EAB, directs the brand strategy and market positioning to effectively communicate the value of evidence-based educational solutions. Davidson oversees the outreach efforts that connect the firm with K-12 and higher education leaders seeking to improve institutional effectiveness. By crafting messaging that highlights the practical feasibility of research-backed frameworks, the Chief Marketing Officer ensures that the organization remains a trusted partner in the education sector. This leadership role involves coordinating with research and product teams to articulate the impact of workforce readiness programs and literacy development initiatives. Lia Davidson drives market awareness and engagement, which supports the expansion of the company's footprint across diverse educational environments. Through strategic communication, Davidson strengthens the collaborative relationship between the firm and its partners. The Chief Marketing Officer maintains a focus on demonstrating how data-driven insights lead to measurable improvements in student outcomes and overall campus success.

    Meredith Schatz - Senior Director and Chief of Staff

    Meredith Schatz, the Senior Director and Chief of Staff at EAB, coordinates cross-functional operations to ensure the seamless execution of the company's strategic initiatives. Schatz oversees the internal processes that allow the firm to deliver customized research and implementation support to educational institutions. By facilitating communication between leadership teams, the Senior Director and Chief of Staff ensures that organizational goals remain aligned with the mission of improving student outcomes. This leadership role involves managing complex projects that span multiple dimensions of educational success, including educator recruitment and retention. Meredith Schatz drives operational efficiency, allowing the firm to respond effectively to the unique circumstances of each partner. Through the optimization of internal workflows, Schatz supports the delivery of high-quality toolkits and frameworks. The Senior Director and Chief of Staff maintains a focus on maintaining the organizational capacity required to address critical challenges across the K-12 and higher education landscape.

    Patricia Hege - Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Adult Learner Recruitment

    Patricia Hege, the Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Adult Learner Recruitment at EAB, manages the strategic focus on expanding access to higher education for non-traditional students. Hege oversees the development of recruitment frameworks that help institutions attract and retain adult learners through evidence-based pathways. By analyzing demographic trends and workforce readiness needs, the Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Adult Learner Recruitment ensures that partner universities can effectively serve this growing population. This leadership role involves collaborating with enrollment services to implement customized strategies that improve institutional effectiveness. Patricia Hege drives the design of programs that address the specific barriers faced by adult students, ensuring that recommendations reflect both academic rigor and practical feasibility. Through targeted recruitment initiatives, Hege supports the broader mission of enhancing student outcomes. The Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Adult Learner Recruitment maintains a focus on scaling these efforts to meet the diverse needs of institutions.

    Anneke Strachan - Business Solutions Managing Director & Chief of Staff

    Anneke Strachan, the Business Solutions Managing Director & Chief of Staff at EAB, directs the implementation of practical business frameworks that help educational institutions optimize resource allocation. Strachan oversees the delivery of customized research and support services that address the operational challenges of schools and universities. By bridging the gap between research insights and real-world application, the Business Solutions Managing Director & Chief of Staff ensures that partners can make informed decisions about program design. This leadership role involves coordinating with internal teams to provide ongoing support for organizational communications and campus safety protocols. Anneke Strachan drives the development of toolkits that measurably improve institutional effectiveness. Through the application of rigorous research, Strachan supports the firm's commitment to collaborative partnership. The Business Solutions Managing Director & Chief of Staff maintains a focus on ensuring that every solution is tailored to the unique circumstances and capacity of each educational institution served.

    Joseph DiVirgilio - Community & Technical Colleges Chief of Staff

    Joseph DiVirgilio, the Community & Technical Colleges Chief of Staff at EAB, manages the strategic initiatives specifically tailored to the unique mission of two-year and technical institutions. DiVirgilio oversees the implementation of workforce readiness programs and college preparation pathways that directly impact student success in these environments. By focusing on the specific challenges of community and technical colleges, the Community & Technical Colleges Chief of Staff ensures that research-backed strategies are both relevant and actionable. This leadership role involves working closely with institutional leaders to improve student retention and graduation rates. Joseph DiVirgilio drives the development of customized frameworks that address the diverse needs of the student populations served by these institutions. Through the application of real-world testing, DiVirgilio supports the firm's goal of enhancing institutional effectiveness. The Community & Technical Colleges Chief of Staff maintains a focus on fostering collaborative partnerships that lead to measurable improvements in student outcomes.

    Ashley Huffman - Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Enroll360

    Ashley Huffman, the Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Enroll360 at EAB, manages the operational execution of the Enroll360 platform, which provides institutions with end-to-end enrollment support. Huffman oversees the deployment of research-backed tools that help colleges optimize their recruitment funnels and improve student yield. By focusing on the technical and strategic aspects of the Enroll360 suite, the Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Enroll360 ensures that partners receive actionable guidance for their specific enrollment challenges. This leadership role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to refine the platform's capabilities and service delivery. Ashley Huffman drives the implementation of strategies that enhance institutional effectiveness and student outcomes. Through the continuous improvement of enrollment frameworks, Huffman supports the firm's commitment to collaborative partnership. The Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Enroll360 maintains a focus on ensuring that all enrollment solutions are tailored to the unique capacity and goals of each educational institution.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding EAB Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads EAB?
    EAB is led by David Felsenthal (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Michael Kirshbaum (Chief Financial Officer) and Lauren Richter (Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services).
    Who is part of EAB’s executive team?
    The executive team of EAB includes leaders such as David Felsenthal (Chief Executive Officer), Michael Kirshbaum (Chief Financial Officer), Lauren Richter (Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does EAB have?
    EAB has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in EAB’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of EAB includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Managing Director, Chief of Staff & President, Enrollment Services, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Marketing Officer.