Anissa D. Jones, Ed.D.

Dr. Anissa Jones currently serves as National Director of Student Development at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Jones has over 15 years of experience in higher education with expertise in adult student learning, student development, student advocacy, and program development. As National Director, she is responsible for providing the leadership, management, and advocacy necessary to enhance the retention and success of all Chicago School students. Specifically, Dr. Jones is charged with oversight of our national programs in Student Leadership, New Student Programs & Services, Student Disability Services, Health & Wellness, and Veteran Student Support.

Dr. Jones holds an Ed.D. in Adult Education from National Louis University, a M.Ed. in Counseling from DePaul University, and a B.A. in Organizational Communication from Loyola University. Her dissertation work is entitled, “Liberatory Transformation of Self to Selfethnic: An Africentric Racial Identity Development Model”, and it represents an insightful analysis of the impact of Africentric knowledge on the racial identity development process of graduate students of the African Diaspora. One of the salient outcomes of her study is an Africentric identity development model that reflects the natural blend of African-centered philosophy, psychology, and spirituality, a model that Dr. Jones has presented at several conferences including the White Privilege conference in 2011 and several conferences at The Chicago School.

Prior to joining the Student Affairs staff at TCSPP, Dr. Jones worked at DePaul University, Joliet Junior College, and with the Hospitality and Entrepreneurship Training Center. Her professional responsibilities have spanned the areas of career development, judicial affairs, budget and personnel management, strategic planning, student and program development, crisis management, and policy development. The bulk of her work experience took place at DePaul where she served as an Assistant Dean of Students, working closely with faculty and staff to remove individual and institutional barriers for students and to help them develop strong personal and community identities that would prepare them to respond to the demands of our diverse and global world.

Her collaborative efforts have been beneficial for the success of students at each of these institutions. These efforts include, but are not limited to the creation of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Studies/Student Development Fellowship at The Chicago School; the creation of the Student Wellness and Advocacy Network at DePaul University; and several trainings she has implemented and assisted in operationalizing at both institutions such as Safe Zone, Bystander intervention and Title IX.

Dr. Jones regularly creates and participates in charitable, educational and service oriented work through her volunteer organization, The Order of the Eastern Star, and facilitates discussions in community organizations on identity development.