Jonathan Koppell

Dr. Jonathan GS Koppell, Montclair State University’s ninth president, is a nationally recognized scholar of policy, organization and management with a reputation as a visionary leader in higher education emphasizing public service and solutions-oriented engagement in the community. As President of the second largest institution in New Jersey, he leads 27,000 faculty, staff, and students towards the university’s mission of delivering transformational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Montclair is a research doctoral institution ranked in the top tier of US universities, a minority-majority and Hispanic-Serving Institution, and is nationally recognized for social mobility and exceptional student outcomes. Since joining in 2021, Koppell has overseen record enrollment and retention, strategic re-imagination of colleges, and deepened community relationships to make a true difference in the region. Prior to Montclair, Koppell served as dean of Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and vice provost for public service and social impact, leading the nation’s largest comprehensive public affairs college. He was instrumental in adding 20 degree programs, greatly expanding online and global offerings, and creating the nation’s first Public Service Academy.Koppell earned doctoral and master’s degrees in political science from the University of California – Berkeley and a baccalaureate degree in government from Harvard.