Meet Rock Jones

ROCK JONES, Ph.D., was inaugurated as Ohio Wesleyan’s 16th president on October 10, 2008. At Ohio Wesleyan, Jones’ innovative leadership has resulted in the creation of a new University-wide strategic plan designed to position Ohio Wesleyan for national leadership in liberal education with a focus on connecting theory to practice in a global context and educating moral leaders for a global society. Other accomplishments include the launch of a new and exciting curricular plan, several aspects of which are currently being piloted; expanded opportunities for study-travel throughout the world; enhancements to campus athletic and residential facilities; construction of the new, “green” Meek Aquatics and Recreation Center, the University’s first all-new building since 2004; recognition of the University by well-known Web sites, including being named by The Daily Beast as one of the 15 Hottest Colleges of the Decade and by Unigo.com as one of the Top Ten Colleges That Fly Under the Academic Radar—but Shouldn’t; a new ten-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission; founding of the President’s Circle, a group of committed alumni who fund some of the University’s strategic initiatives; and awarding of new grants from the Mellon Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Formerly executive vice president and dean of advancement at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, Jones spearheaded a comprehensive campaign to reposition the college as a leader in engaged liberal arts education. Also at Hendrix, he served as vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid, interim vice president for student affairs, and chaplain.

Locally, Jones serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Delaware County, where he chairs the Investment Committee; Delaware Chamber of Commerce; Strand Theatre, and Simon Kenton Council of Boy Scouts of America. He is also a board member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the Methodist Church, Great Lakes Colleges Association, and North Coast Athletic Conference. He is a member of the executive committee of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.

Jones holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas-Austin, a master of divinity magna cum laude from the Duke University Divinity School, and a bachelor of arts with honors from Hendrix College, where he received the college’s President’s Medal, presented to the student who best exemplifies the school’s highest ideals.