Jeff Cox, Ed.D.*

Bio

Dr. Jeff Cox is the 11^th president of the North Carolina Community College System and a lifelong champion of North Carolina public education.

Prior to leading the System, Dr. Cox served as the President of Wilkes Community College from 2014 to 2023 where he more than doubled the completion rate at the college, raised $20 million for strategic initiatives, and created a five-year strategic plan seen as a national model for other institutions.

Cox formerly served as the Superintendent of Alleghany County Schools from 2005 to 2014. He also has served as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction for Lee County Schools and an elementary principal and assistant principal in Union County Schools. He began his career as a high school teacher and coach.

In 2017, Dr. Cox was awarded an Aspen Institute Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. He was one of 40 college leaders in the country selected for this prestigious program through a rigorous process that considered candidates’ abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams, cultivate partnerships, and focus on results-oriented improvements for greater student success and access.

In 2001, Dr. Cox earned his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He also has a Master’s in School Administration and a bachelor’s degree in English—Secondary Education, both of which he earned from Appalachian State University. Dr. Cox and his wife, Reba, have three sons Dylan, Evan, and Zach and four dogs.