Kathy Jones took the reigns as Director of Business School Operations for The Citadel School of Business Administration just last fall; however, she is no stranger to the Military College of South Carolina. Jones, who graduated from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences and Bowie State University with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, spent 20 years in the Army. She came to The Citadel in 1997, assigned to Army ROTC detachment as assistant professor of military science. She was the first female Army officer at the college.
Jones worked as Assistant Director of Admissions and later Assistant Commandant for Administration and Coeducation. She was also involved in recruiting women; the college began admitting female cadets in 1995, and the numbers were increasing steadily each year. The year she arrived, the college brought in 10 women, and she served as a role model to show that “women can succeed in the military.” Jones and her husband, Dr. Ray Jones, who is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the college, have always been passionate about academics, and while she said she enjoyed her position in the Commandant’s Office, “I thought that coming back into this position would be beneficial for me and for students.” She said that she enjoys being able to work with MBA candidates, while still interacting with cadets as she has for much of her career at The Citadel.
The fall was a period of transition for Jones, who took over duties from Marna Stilley. However, it didn’t take long for her to make an impact. “As the founding director of Business School Operations, Col. Kathy Jones is a Godsend,” said Dr. Earl Walker, Dean of the School of Business Administration. “She has, in short order, reorganized our staff, ensured outstanding customer service to all of our stakeholders, and been a warm, concerned force in continued business school operations. And with all of this, she also is the administrative leader of our MBA program. She meets with MBA candidates, works extensively in getting them admitted, and spends hours counseling them.”
Jones worked as Assistant Director of Admissions and later Assistant Commandant for Administration and Coeducation. She was also involved in recruiting women; the college began admitting female cadets in 1995, and the numbers were increasing steadily each year. The year she arrived, the college brought in 10 women, and she served as a role model to show that “women can succeed in the military.” Jones and her husband, Dr. Ray Jones, who is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the college, have always been passionate about academics, and while she said she enjoyed her position in the Commandant’s Office, “I thought that coming back into this position would be beneficial for me and for students.” She said that she enjoys being able to work with MBA candidates, while still interacting with cadets as she has for much of her career at The Citadel.
The fall was a period of transition for Jones, who took over duties from Marna Stilley. However, it didn’t take long for her to make an impact. “As the founding director of Business School Operations, Col. Kathy Jones is a Godsend,” said Dr. Earl Walker, Dean of the School of Business Administration. “She has, in short order, reorganized our staff, ensured outstanding customer service to all of our stakeholders, and been a warm, concerned force in continued business school operations. And with all of this, she also is the administrative leader of our MBA program. She meets with MBA candidates, works extensively in getting them admitted, and spends hours counseling them.”
She has also been looking toward future goals. “I am looking forward to working with faculty on maintenance of accreditation,” she said. “A lot of times faculty are focusing on classes, and I want to help them better the classes and the program.
“We want to be proud to say ‘Those are our students,’” she added.
Walker said that this motivation is an invaluable asset to the school. “We have been waiting for her a very long time,” he said, “and we are very glad she is here.”
“We want to be proud to say ‘Those are our students,’” she added.
Walker said that this motivation is an invaluable asset to the school. “We have been waiting for her a very long time,” he said, “and we are very glad she is here.”
