Cindy Knox
Director, Student Accessibility Services
SU 307
knoxc2@nku.edu

Bio

Ms. Cindy Knox serves as the Director for Student Accessibility Services. Since her start at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in 2008 as an Assistant Director in Student Accessibility Services and then promoted to Director in 2015, under her Direction, NKU has been named one of America’s most disability-friendly Universities and one of ten best in the nation for students with physical impairments. Ms. Knox established Delta Psi which is the first chapter of DAPi established in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, an honor society for students with disabilities. In addition to her role as Director of Student Accessibility Services, Cindy has served NKU as an adjunct faculty member, a certified master advisor and a student organization advisor. Ms. Knox infuses equity, inclusion, collegiality, and collaboration into the fabric of her advocacy for students. This is reflected through several of her professional awards such as the Dr. Leon E. Boothe Diversity Award, which reflects her continued strategic effort to implement and teach Universal Design across campus to provide equitable access to all students.  Ms. Knox was also named the recipient of the Civic Engagement and Public Outreach Award after leading the service partnership with NKU veterans with disabilities and the Joey Votto Foundation.

Ms. Knox completed her Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Kentucky.  She holds national certification through the Rehabilitation Counseling Certification Commission and is a member of the Kentucky and National Associations for Higher Education and Disability.  She also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Mental Health/Human Services from Northern Kentucky University.  Prior to her time at NKU, Ms. Knox worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Ohio and an ADA Coordinator at Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale, Arkansas. Ms. Knox has worked in the field of higher education for the past 16 years, and has worked in the field of disability for over 20 years.  She is very passionate about promoting universal design throughout campus, and empowering students toward self-advocacy.  

Sara Forrest
Assistant Director, Student Accessibility Services
SU 306
tomelins1@nku.edu

Bio

Sara Forrest is the Assistant Director for Student Accessibility Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Thomas More College. Additionally, Sara completed her Master of Arts in Special Education from Georgetown College. She worked for seven years as a special education teacher before joining the team at NKU in July of 2019. Sara is passionate about working with students with disabilities and helping them advocate for their educational needs.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys baking, binge watching shows on Netflix, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.