Dr Jonelle Knox

Jonelle Knox, Ed. D has more than 20 years of higher education, corporate, and governmental experience. Dr. Knox currently serves as Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs at New Jersey City University. At NJCU, Jonelle oversees all areas of academic supports, success, and retention. Additionally, he contributes to all aspects of the institutions Academic Affairs instruction and operations inclusive of curriculum, faculty and union relations. Since arriving at NJCU, Dr. Knox has been instrumental to enhancing academic supports while increasing student retention and graduation rates.

Prior to his appointment at NJCU, he served as Associate Higher Education Officer for Academic Affairs at the College of Staten Island (CSI) and interim Chief of Staff to the Provost at Westchester Community College. He has worked as both a full-time and adjunct associate professor for more than fifteen years at institutions including: Kennedy King College, Moraine Valley Community College, Westchester Community College, Medgar Evers College and currently at Bronx Community College (BCC).

Jonelle has published scholarly works on matters including successful underrepresented student populations at post-secondary institutions, incorporating student support services into community college classrooms, and barriers faced by Black male professionals in higher educations. He is a contributing author and editor of the book Black in The Middle: Navigating Power, Politics, and Purpose in Higher Education.

Prior to working full-time in higher education, Dr. Knox worked for more than 15 years at various governmental agencies and financial institutions including: RBC Bank, The State of Maryland, The Internal Revenue Service, and NovaStar Home Mortgage. In corporate America, Jonelle last served as Assistant Vice President of Risk Management at LawCash for nearly 7 years.

Dr. Knox currently serves as the President of the National Council on Student Development. He currently serves on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission for Student Success and is a past AACC Commissioner for College Readiness. Jonelle was a member of the 2018 Thomas Lakin Institute cohort which prepares professionals for senior leadership positions in community colleges. Additionally, Dr. Knox was a member of the National Council on Black America Affairs (NCBAA) 2015 Leadership Development Institute for Black mid-level community college professionals.

He is a middle states peer evaluator, and his research interests include educational programs for incarcerated and re-entering citizens, as well as minority male success in higher education.

Dr. Knox earned an Associates of General Studies from Harold Washington College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University, a Master of Arts in English – specializing in Writing and Rhetoric from Lehman College (CUNY), and a Doctorate in Education from Morgan State University specializing in Community College Leadership.