Lisa Cornelius
AVP of Student Experience and Campus Belonging and Dean of Students
Background
Dr. Lisa Brown Cornelius has been the Assistant Vice President of Student Experience & Campus Belonging and Dean of Students at John Carroll University since April 2024. In her role, Dr. Brown Cornelius leads student support, crisis response, student wellbeing, and the expansion of the student residential experience. With a commitment to creating a culture of care for students across campus, Dr. Brown Cornelius supervises the teams responsible for leading Community Standards, Student Care & Support, Student Wellness & Wellbeing, Title IX along with the Office of Residence Life and the University Counseling Center. Dr. Brown Cornelius is a member of the University's Senior Leadership Team and serves on numerous university committees, including leading the University's Threat Assessment Team and co-leading retention efforts.
Dr. Brown Cornelius has been a leader within the John Carroll University community since 2011. In her role as the Senior Director of Residence, she led initiatives to enhance the residential student experience with a focus on fostering inclusive living and learning environments where students find connections to their community and academic success. Dr. Brown Cornelius guided efforts to increase student satisfaction, student learning, and overall program efficacy for residential students and student staff members. She also had an instrumental role in the visioning of the renovations of Murphy, Dolan, and Pacelli Halls with attention to the creation of spaces that promote community and inclusion. As JCU continues to move forward, Dr. Brown Cornelius is continuing to support and envision the development of the expanded residential experience with the addition of the Fairmount Circle apartments, duplexes and houses, and the Gateway project.
Dr. Brown Cornelius is also a leader within professional organizations. She mostly recently served as the Vice President of Programming for JASPA, the Jesuit Student Affairs organization where she was recognized with the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to JASPA award. She has also served on the regional board of NASPA IV-E.
Education
Ph.D., Higher Education--Kent State UniversityDissertation Title: BECOMING A WOMAN FOR HERSELF AND FOR AND WITH OTHERS:A CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OF WHITE COLLEGE WOMEN EDUCATED AT JESUIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ENGAGED IN RACIAL JUSTICE ALLY BEHAVIOR
M.A., Student Affairs Administration--Michigan State University
B.A., English & History--Xavier University
Courses Taught
Instructor, LP 2500: Global Leadership (2021-present)
Publications
Feldblum, M., Blea, K., & Brown Cornelius, L., (2023). Who we are: College characteristics, student demographics, and institutional practices. In C. H. Livingston, C. J. Porter, & T. C. Shandley (Eds.) Small and mighty: Student affairs at small colleges and universities. NASPA.
