Gilbert Zavala

Gilbert Zavala, is Vice President of Education and Talent Development at the Austin Chamber of Commerce. He oversees and coordinates school district and higher education partnerships supporting the Chamber’s college readiness, financial aid, and direct-to-college enrollment strategies across 15 school districts in Central Texas. Prior to joining the Chamber, Gilbert managed college
persistence and completion programming for College Forward, a college access and completion program partnered with seven school districts in Central Texas and matriculating students to over 82 colleges in-state and across the country. Gilbert’s graduate work included a focus on college readiness and college completion policy. He served as a GRA coordinating research on these issues at the University of Texas, Charles A Dana Center. He holds a BA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Texas, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs.