James F. Jones
Encyclopedia
James F. Jones, Jr., is the 21st president of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut
. Jones is a native of Atlanta, Georgia
. He and his wife, Jan, have three children.
, a Master's degree from Emory University
and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia
, from which he graduated cum laude; while at Virginia he was assistant director of the Virginia Glee Club
. He also holds a Certificat from the Sorbonne
. He has received the Chevalier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French government. In addition to official duties, he also maintains trusteeships and board memberships on a number of philanthropic and educational organizations.
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
, from 1996 to 2004. There, he presided over the most successful strategic planning and fundraising drive in the college's history. From 1991 to 1996, he was Professor and Vice Provost at Southern Methodist University
, as well as dean of its Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. From 1975 to 1991, Jones held various academic positions at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
, including professor and chair in the department of Romance languages. Earlier, he served as preceptor
in the Department of French and Romance Philology at Columbia University
, and was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at Woodward Academy
in Atlanta.
Despite his busy schedule, Jones still manages to teach at least one course each year. He is also frequently seen on campus walking his three Irish setter
s, Atticus, Colleen, and Ashlyn.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Jones is a native of Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He and his wife, Jan, have three children.
Education
Jones graduated from Woodward Academy in his hometown Atlanta. Jones holds Master's and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, a Master's degree from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, from which he graduated cum laude; while at Virginia he was assistant director of the Virginia Glee Club
Virginia Glee Club
The Virginia Glee Club is a critically acclaimed men's chorus based at the University of Virginia. It performs both traditional and contemporary vocal works, typically in TTBB arrangements. Founded in 1871, the Glee Club is the University's oldest musical organization and one of the oldest all-male...
. He also holds a Certificat from the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. He has received the Chevalier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French government. In addition to official duties, he also maintains trusteeships and board memberships on a number of philanthropic and educational organizations.
Pre-Trinity positions
Before his presidency at Trinity, Jones served as president of Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, from 1996 to 2004. There, he presided over the most successful strategic planning and fundraising drive in the college's history. From 1991 to 1996, he was Professor and Vice Provost at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, as well as dean of its Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. From 1975 to 1991, Jones held various academic positions at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, including professor and chair in the department of Romance languages. Earlier, he served as preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
in the Department of French and Romance Philology at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at Woodward Academy
Woodward Academy
Woodward Academy is an independent, co-educational college-preparatory school for grades Pre-Kindergarten to 12 located in College Park, Georgia, within the Atlanta metropolitan area...
in Atlanta.
Career At Trinity College
Since his appointment as Trinity's 21st president on July 21, 2004, Jones launched the Cornerstone project, a comprehensive College-wide planning effort that reaffirmed Trinity's commitment to its students and to global engagement alike. He also has made many changes regarding the college's administration. His efforts have already elicited a college-record 56% participation in donations from alumni.Despite his busy schedule, Jones still manages to teach at least one course each year. He is also frequently seen on campus walking his three Irish setter
Irish Setter
The Irish Setter , is a setter, a breed of gundog and family dog. The term Irish Setter is commonly used to encompass the show-bred dog recognized by the American Kennel Club as well as the field-bred Red Setter recognised by the Field Dog Stud Book....
s, Atticus, Colleen, and Ashlyn.