Campus News

Trinity University VP Deneese Jones to Speak at UK

photo of Deneese Jones
Deneese Jones, vice president for academic affairs at Trinity University will speak at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Boone Center.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2017)Deneese Jones, vice president for academic affairs at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a former University of Kentucky faculty member, returns to UK this week. Jones will speak at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 6, in the Hilary J. Boone Center's Rose Dining Room, with a reception to follow.

Her appearance is hosted by the Women's Executive Leadership Development program (WELD), part of UK's Office for Faculty Advancement and Institutional Effectiveness. It is free and open to the public. Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP by emailing facultyadv@uky.edu so that organizers have an accurate count.

Jones' presentation is titled "The Tragedy of a Single Story: Thoughts on Issues of Race and Gender in Higher Education Administration for the 21st Century." The topic challenges the notion of a "single story" by focusing on affirming identity, building community and cultivating leadership in a pluralistic context.

“I desire for us, at this juncture of the 21st century — and as responsible educators in higher education — to function as thought leaders in our universities and colleges, to exhibit the same levels of courage, creativity and intrusive motivation exhibited by the pioneers of change in the legacies of our educational histories," Jones said, reflecting her passion for education. "The change must be systemic since we cannot afford to tolerate islands of excellence within a sea of inequity.”

As vice president for academic affairs at Trinity, Jones serves as the chief academic officer, overseeing all academic programs, the development and mentoring of faculty and professional staff, academic affairs budget preparation, the University Library, TU Press, athletics, and implementation of the university's strategic plan. She also serves as the second-highest ranking administrator of Trinity — second to the president.

A native Texan, Jones received her bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University and her master's and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University. She has had an extensive career in higher education, including 15 years at UK, where she was an associate professor in the College of Education; served as associate dean of the Graduate School; and served as chair of the President's Commission on Diversity.

She also held positions of provost at Drake University and dean of Longwood University's College of Education and Human Services.

Jones speaks extensively at the national and international level and has published articles in scholarly journals as well as books related to her research interests in equity pedagogy for literacy instruction, inclusive excellence, and leadership development in higher education.