Keisha Knox
A native of Mantee鈥攁 small Clay County town outside of West Point鈥擪eisha Knox is a first-generation college graduate who today works as the advancement coordinator within Mississippi State鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences.
Her role within the CAS Dean鈥檚 Office supports the development and alumni relations team, and she oversees anything from funding and donor stewardship to student support and cross-campus collaboration.
鈥淚 consider myself the 鈥榝ace of the office鈥 for the development team鈥撯搈aking sure when students, parents or coworkers call or come by to inquire about scholarship funding, I鈥檓 here and available to meet with them.鈥
She chairs the college鈥檚 15-member scholarship committee, serves as liaison to other campus offices and manages the Student First Undergraduate Excellence Opportunity program, which provides travel support for undergraduates.
As co-creator of the Student First Scholarship portal, Knox has helped streamline access to experiential learning funds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of our broader student experiential approach,鈥 she explained, 鈥渁nd it reflects our commitment to helping students apply what they鈥檝e learned in the real world.鈥
Her favorite part of the job? Helping students in a moment of need. 鈥淲hat excites me most is when we can help a student with funding when they think all hope is lost. I like to see the excitement on their face or hear it in their voice when the answer is 鈥榶es, we can help with that.鈥欌
Behind the scenes, Knox also helps ensure those who support 国产麻豆AV stay informed. 鈥淭o me, stewardship is more than a process鈥攊t鈥檚 about cultivating lasting relationships that advance the mission of the university,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 organizing a scholarship ceremony or resolving a student鈥檚 award issue, I try to handle it all with care and precision.鈥
Her journey from the quiet streets of Mantee to the heart of Mississippi鈥檚 leading research university reflects the very mission she now helps support. After earning her associate degree from Mary Holmes Community College in 2000, she paused her education to raise her son, LJ. She returned to college years later, graduating from Mississippi University for Women in 2020.
Before joining 国产麻豆AV, Knox spent 15 years in the West Point Consolidated School District, working in administrative support roles across elementary, middle and high schools. 鈥淎fter my son graduated in 2015, I figured my time in K-12 was done,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was ready for new challenges, and I knew there were amazing opportunities at 国产麻豆AV where I could grow while staying close to home.鈥
She joined 国产麻豆AV in 2016, first working in admissions and scholarships before transitioning to CAS, where she first served as business coordinator for the research team.
Outside of work, Knox is surrounded by the love of her close-knit family, including her son, two grandchildren鈥撯揂very and Brooklyn鈥撯揾er sisters, and many cousins in the area.
鈥淗ome is wherever my family is,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t brings back a feeling of nostalgia from childhood and a feeling of security knowing I will always have their love and support through everything I go through in life.鈥