Talisa Dixon

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Trustee

Dr. Talisa Dixon started her 28-year career in public education in Akron Public Schools, where she served as a social studies teacher, then assistant principal.

Dr. Dixon spent nine years as an administrator in Columbus City Schools from 2001-2010. She served three years as an assistant principal at Brookhaven High School, then six years combined as the principal at Brookhaven and at Columbus Alternative High School. Dr. Dixon served as the deputy superintendent for the Saginaw Public School District in Michigan for four years before accepting the superintendent post in Cleveland Heights-University Heights (CH-UH) in 2014. She began her tenure as Columbus City School Superintendent/CEO in March 2019.

Dr. Dixon currently serves on the board of directors for several local organizations in Central Ohio, including I Know I Can, the Council of Great City Schools, Otterbein University, and the United Way of Central Ohio.

Most recently, Dr. Dixon was selected to receive the Distinguished Educator Award at the Ohio State Coalition, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)’s 47th Annual Bethune-Height Recognition Program and Awards.

She was honored as a member of the Columbus Business First’s 2022 Power 100 for her leadership and impactful role in creating partnerships to prepare Columbus students for college and the workforce. She was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Otterbein University for her exemplary leadership and service in education and to the Columbus community.

Dr. Dixon has been recognized both locally and nationally for her leadership in public education. She was named the 2017-2018 National Administrator of the Year by the American Heart Association. She is a member of the 10th class of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) and was selected as a recipient of the Educator Inspired to Lead Award. Dr. Dixon was honored as the 2018 Educator of the Year by the city of University Heights, and she has also been honored by Dress for Success Cleveland with the organization’s Walking in Success honors in 2015.

A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Dr. Dixon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Mississippi Valley State University. She earned three Master of Arts degrees (Sociology, Educational Administration, and Secondary Education) and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Akron. Dr. Dixon is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.