Tarshel Beards

Tarshel Beards is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in communications, public relations, and education. Currently serving as the Community Relations Manager at Oakland Public Library since March 2023, Tarshel also operates as an independent consultant for ONYX Communications, providing expertise in strategic communications, grant writing, social media strategy, and event planning since April 2016. Previous roles include Director of the Black Unity Center at San Francisco State University, Communications Director at Illinois Humanities, and various academic and editorial positions in public relations across several institutions, including Malcolm X College and Chicago State University. Tarshel holds a BA in Public Justice from the State University of New York at Oswego, an MSJ in Journalism from Roosevelt University, and an MLS in Library Science from the University at Buffalo.