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Mark Engberg

Mark Engberg

  • Chief of Staff, Office of the President, La Salle University
  • Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy

Academic Area

Higher Education Administration and Policy

Research Interests

Structural and systemic forces that produce inequality in the American system of postsecondary education; factors that facilitate postsecondary enrollment; educational benefits of diversity in response to affirmative action cases.

Biography

Dr. Engberg received his Baccalaureate degree in Economics from the University of Michigan, Masters of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University, and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff to the President of La Salle University, where he oversees the strategic priorities and daily operations of the university. Additionally, he serves as Secretary of the University, Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management, and manages the Office of the General Counsel. Previous work experience in higher education includes serving as the Vice President of Research at Human Capital Research Corporation (HCRC) from 2004-2007, working as a Professor of Higher Education and Department Chair at Loyola University Chicago from 2007-2017, and serving as an Associate Dean and Professor of Higher Education at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver from 2017-2021.

Dr. Engberg’s research agenda is rooted in his strong belief in social justice and an ongoing desire to investigate and dismantle the structural and systemic forces that continue to reproduce inequality in the American system of postsecondary education. His research has specifically addressed individual and organizational factors that facilitate postsecondary enrollment, including examining the roles of high school counselors, parents, teachers, and peers in the college choice process. His research has also investigated the educational benefits of diversity in response to affirmative action cases at the University of Michigan, University of Texas, Harvard University, and the University of North Carolina, and his research has been cited in numerous amicus curiae briefs presented to the Supreme Court on behalf of the defendants. Dr. Engberg also co-developed the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI), a survey instrument used by over 150 schools to examine curricular, co-curricular, and community-based factors that influence global learning and development.

In addition to regularly presenting at national and international conferences, his work has been published in numerous high-impact journals, including the Journal of Higher Education, Review of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Equity & Excellence in Education, Journal of College Student Development, TC Record, and Review of Educational Research. Dr. Engberg received the Outstanding Review of Research Award from AERA in 2005 and the Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Research in 2014 from Loyola University Chicago.

Education

  • Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Michigan
  • MA, Counseling Psychology, Northwestern University
  • BA, Economics, University of Michigan