Lisa Orden Zarin

Lisa Orden Zarin is the Founder and CEO of College Bound St. Louis, an organization she established in 2006. She was inspired to create College Bound after experiencing the college admissions process with her son and realizing the challenges faced by students from low-income communities. Her organization aims to bridge the gap in college graduation rates between low-income and high-income students by providing individualized coaching and support. Under her leadership, College Bound has expanded from serving two high schools and 36 students to over 40 high schools and more than 550 students annually, achieving a college graduation rate nearly 500% higher than expected for their demographics.12

Lisa Orden Zarin has a background in communications, writing, marketing, film, and has experience with multiple startup companies, both corporate and non-profit.2 She is also known for her commitment to scaling evidence-based outcomes in higher education, behavioral science, and tech solutions.3