Jonathan D. Mathis

Jonathan D. Mathis, PhD, is CSS’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He comes to CSS with vast expertise in cultivating transformational experiences across primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Jonathan’s focus for the past 20 years has been on the success of learners, teachers, and leaders across all levels of education. His contributions to the field of Education include emphasis on educational equity and systems change; college access and success; social, emotional, and academic development; academic achievement and postsecondary readiness; training and professional development; as well as student, counselor, and school principal leadership development resources and experiences. Prior to being selected as CSS’s CEO, Jonathan was Senior Vice President, Education Policy and Systems Change for City Year, Inc.; Executive Director at Next Step Public Charter School; Director of National Honor Societies at the National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP); Director of Education and Training for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC); Regional Director, Collegiate Identity Partnership Model for Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC) Schools; and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education. He has also provided board and national advisory service for educational institutions and nonprofits, including the American University Alumni Association, College Board’s Counselor Community Advisory Group, and the New Futures organization. Through all of his academic and professional experiences, Jonathan has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the mission of CSS—to help schools become places where students want to be. He earned his PhD in urban educational policy from the University of Southern California, his master’s degree in educational administration (K-12) from Trinity Washington University, and his bachelor’s degree in business administration from American University.