Thomas Noel was born in Newark, NJ, and grew up in Irvington, NJ.  Thomas studied at Rutgers University where he earned a B.A. in Africana Studies and Psychology and earned an M.A. in Education and English Literature. Thomas is a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, (an historically African American fraternity).

Thomas began his professional career in student services at Cornell University in 2005 in Residential Programs and Campus Life as a Residence Hall Director in the Mews Residence Hall on North Campus.  During his time at Cornell, Thomas has worked closely with the Pre-Freshmen Summer Program, the Judicial Administrator’s Office, and he is the former advisor of the Campus Life Peer Review Board.

When he is not working or interacting with students, Thomas enjoys participating in community service activities, taking doctoral classes in education at Cornell, reading, writing, music, traveling, watching the New York Mets and football.