Sherell D. Wilson

Sherell D. Wilson serves as Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the National College of Education at National Louis University, leveraging over 20 years of cross-sector expertise in higher education, K-12 administration, and non-profit consulting. Her current role encompasses teaching doctoral and master's programs, guiding graduate students, and advancing research in student retention.

Her educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Phoenix, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida, and a B.A. in Special Education and Teaching from the same institution.

Dr. Wilson's research centers on student development and retention for underserved populations, with specialized focus on high-achieving, low-income students. Her work examines psychosocial needs, persistence barriers, and enrollment continuation strategies within community college contexts, emphasizing systemic interventions for at-risk learners.

Her scholarly output consistently addresses equity gaps in higher education, revealing how socioeconomic factors intersect with academic support systems. This research trajectory highlights the critical need for tailored retention frameworks that address both financial and psychosocial dimensions of student success.

As an active academic contributor, she serves on editorial review boards for the Academy of Educational Leadership Journal and Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, while providing dissertation committee guidance and curriculum development at National Louis University.

Complementing her academic work, Dr. Wilson founded Beyond College Access LLC, mentors for Take Stock in Children, and holds leadership roles in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and multiple professional associations including NASPA and the American Grant Writers’ Association.