Alexis Knox, '16, '18

Calling Columbus State home

First-generation college student and two-time alumna Alexis Knox always tells people she didn't choose CSU - CSU chose her. It all started on Discovery Day, when Knox visited the campus with a friend. Unlike her friend, Knox had no plans to attend Columbus State; but, upon touring the campus and meeting with faculty and staff, she discovered that she loved everything about the university.

"I will say that CSU is a hidden gem. It's one of the places that you can really call home," the 2016 sociology graduate explains. "I think that's why I really enjoy being here at CSU, and that's why I came back to get my second degree."

But, leaving the campus she had grown to love - even after her completing her master's degree in organizational leadership in 2018 - proved to be a challenge. That's what led her to make CSU her permanent home by finding a spot as the community outreach coordinator in the Office of Student Life and Development. That role allows her to pour into the next generation of students the same way others poured into her during a critical time in her studies.

"When I lost my mom [in 2015], I felt so connected to [the team in Student Affairs]," she recalled. "They were there to comfort me, to nurture me. Some of them took on that ownership of treating me like family. I feel that I owe it to CSU because there are a lot of people who have invested in me."

Being a part of the Student Affairs team herself now, Knox works to inspire in students the drive they need to succeed through their experiences outside of the classroom.

"Whether it's through professional development, leadership development, or the various workshops that help ensure students have the tools and resources to excel, I feel that I've advocated for students like myself because, as an alum, I know what students need and what they want," she says.