The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has elected Dr. Nathaniel Jones III as Commissioner serving as a Higher Education Finance member with a term beginning on July 1, 2023. Dr. Jones is currently serving as the Interim Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administration for the Peralta Community College District and has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration. He is a strong advocate for equity and access in education, and he is committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

“I am honored to be elected to the ACCJC board,” said Dr. Jones. “I believe that community colleges play a vital role in our society, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure that our colleges continue to provide high-quality education to all students.” Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an MBA from Loyola University.

Dr. Jones is the third recent Peralta Community College District leader to serve as an ACCJC Commissioner. Dr. Cynthia “Cindi” Napoli-Abella Reiss, a trustee for the district, is also currently a commissioner, serving as an academic member since 2018. The experience Trustee Napoli-Abella Reiss gained with ACCJC was instrumental in helping guide the Peralta Colleges out of a brief period of accreditation sanctions. The four colleges were removed from all sanctions and restored to the normal accreditation review cycle in January 2023. Berkeley City College faculty member Dr. Joseph  Bielanski served as an academic member commissioner from 2010 to 2016. Peralta has been represented by a trustee, a faculty member, and now an administrator too. 

"We are proud to have Dr. Jones represent the Peralta Community College District on the ACCJC board," said Dr. Jannett N. Jackson, Interim Chancellor of the district. "He will be a valuable asset to the ACCJC board. I'm also excited about the creative solutions and new best practices from community colleges across the state that he'll observe at ACCJC that he can bring back to our colleges, and more importantly, our students."

The ACCJC is the regional accrediting body for community and junior colleges in California. It is responsible for ensuring that these colleges meet the high standards of quality and academic integrity set by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  For more information, visit https://accjc.org/commissioners/.