Kisha Manning Bilal

Kisha Manning Bilal, M.A. CCSP, GCDF (she/her/hers) is the Career Development Manager for the Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) and serves as part of the GW Center for Career Services' Career Academic Partnerships unit. With her portfolio, Kisha focuses on expanding professional competencies, creating experiential learning experiences, and fostering career and academic collaborations that support ESIA undergraduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Kisha has also served as a Lecturer in International Affairs with Elliott since 2024, further embedding professional development curriculum for first-year students and early-career professionals at the university. 

With over 15 years of experience as a Scholar-Practitioner in career services, administrative operations, program management, and teaching, Kisha has held progressive roles at Johns Hopkins University, American University, and George Washington University. Academically, Kisha has also earned a B.A. in political science from William Paterson University, an M.A. in higher education administration from George Washington University, and a post-graduate certification in international studies from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Currently, Kisha is completing her doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration with GW's Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD), and her research focuses on examining leadership representation, experiences, and challenges for women of color in higher education using critical frameworks.

In her personal time, Kisha enjoys watching sports, spending time with her family, and conducting genealogical research.