Michelle Cox
Zion,IL
Summary
Visionary leader with 15+ years in youth development and organizational management within Extension and nonprofit sectors. Expertise in statewide program development, team leadership, and fiscal oversight. Founded Illinois Extension’s first civic engagement-focused 4-H club and co-developed a youth dialogue curriculum on inclusion. Proven ability to align educational programming with community needs and foster interdisciplinary partnerships.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
County Extension Director – Lake & McHenry Counties
University of Illinois Extension
Grayslake, IL
03.2022 - Current
- Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for multi-county Extension programming.
- Supervise all academic and civil service staff; lead performance reviews and strategic hiring.
- Align unit objectives with state goals; serve on state, regional, and national committees.
- Present impact outcomes to stakeholders; ensure timely reporting and compliance with University policies.
- Oversee budgets and facilities, and lead internal system improvements to optimize operations.
4-H Youth Development Educator – Lake & McHenry Counties
University of Illinois Extension
Grayslake, IL
12.2015 - 03.2022
- Developed and implemented statewide, research-based youth development programs.
- Founded Illinois Extension’s first Youth Civic Engagement Special Interest 4-H Club, Standing Together Taking Action (STTA), providing a statewide platform for youth to reflect, lead, and take action on community-centered issues.
- Co-created 'Just In Time Youth Dialogues', a statewide curriculum supporting youth-led conversations on inclusion, belonging, and community engagement.
- Built cross-county partnerships and delivered inclusive, high-impact youth education.
- Supported statewide initiatives and collaborated with faculty specialists on curriculum design.
- Championed recruitment and training of volunteers, resulting in expanded program reach.
Operations Manager – Lake & McHenry Counties
Junior Achievement of Chicago
River Grove, IL
07.2014 - 12.2015
- Directed classroom programming for 38 schools and 700+ volunteers.
- Fostered relationships with Fortune 500 sponsors and coordinated major events.
- Managed CRM data and provided program impact reporting.
Adjunct Faculty, Part-Time
Waukegan School District #60
Waukegan, IL
05.2012 - 06.2014
- Taught core and special education subjects across multiple schools.
- Implemented behavior plans and supported individualized learning goals.
Director of Operations
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
North Chicago, IL
08.2007 - 05.2012
- Led nine club sites, supervising 30+ staff and managing a $1.2M budget.
- Increased youth membership and volunteer engagement by over 50%.
- Secured over $200K in grants and expanded youth programming.
Director of Programming
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
North Chicago, IL
07.2005 - 08.2007
- Managed standalone clubhouse operations and staff.
- Led youth education initiatives, community partnerships, and program evaluations.
Education
Ph.D. - Education
Capella University
Minneapolis, MNM.S. - Human Services
Capella University
Minneapolis, MNB.A. - Sociology
Barat College
Lake Forest, ILSkills
- Strategic planning
- Budget management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional collaboration
Affiliations
- National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP)
- Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Accomplishments
- Creator of Illinois Extension’s first youth-led civic engagement 4-H club.
- Co-developer of statewide youth dialogue curriculum focused on inclusion and belonging.
- Secured program funding and demonstrated measurable statewide impact.
- Recognized for building strategic partnerships and increasing program diversity
Awards
- 2020 Excellence in Diversity Award
- 2020 Individual Extension Excellence Award
- 2020, 2017 Illinois 4-H Green Team Awards
- 2018 Excellence of Service Award
- 2017 Interdisciplinary Unit Team Excellence Award
Certification
- Real Colors® Certified Facilitator
- Certified Navigating Difference: Cultural Awareness
Trainer
Timeline
County Extension Director – Lake & McHenry Counties
University of Illinois Extension
03.2022 - Current
4-H Youth Development Educator – Lake & McHenry Counties
University of Illinois Extension
12.2015 - 03.2022
Operations Manager – Lake & McHenry Counties
Junior Achievement of Chicago
07.2014 - 12.2015
Adjunct Faculty, Part-Time
Waukegan School District #60
05.2012 - 06.2014
Director of Operations
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
08.2007 - 05.2012
Director of Programming
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
07.2005 - 08.2007
Ph.D. - Education
Capella University
M.S. - Human Services
Capella University
B.A. - Sociology
Barat College
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