President Paul Jones on his journey to Fort Valley State and what’s next for the university
It’s been a journey for Dr. Paul Jones.
He’s been the president of Fort Valley State University since 2015, shepherding the HBCU, land-grant institution through the ever-evolving world of higher education, infrastructure projects and the coronavirus pandemic. Before leading FVSU, Jones worked at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and Darton State College in Albany, but he’s not a Peach State native.
Jones’ journey began in south-central Los Angeles, the youngest of 10 siblings. There were plenty of stops between his life growing up in one of the largest cities in the world and leading the traditionally agriculture-focused university in rural Peach County.
Jones’ parents moved to L.A. from Mississippi in search of a better life, and he recalls his childhood as tough and eye-opening.
“I’m grateful for that experience, because I was able to get away from some of the distractions and had a chance to grow up quickly. It was a tough, difficult transition, but at the same time, they did nurture me and give me support. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have that experience. So I’m very grateful,” said Jones.
He was recruited out of high school to play football at Utah State, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before getting a Ph.D from Colorado State. Jones worked for universities in Colorado, Utah and Maryland before his first job in Georgia, where he moved with his wife Sylvia and children Isaiah and Daphne.
Coming to Middle Georgia
Jones said it was really important to move to Georgia because he wanted to raise his children with a deeper understanding and appreciation of representation, diversity, and culture in the South.
When the job at FVSU opened up, Jones was drawn to it because he wanted to make an impact on students who reminded him of himself and apply the leadership skills he learned in his previous roles in higher education.
“Every culture is different,” said Jones. “So it was important to really understand. I had never worked in an HBCU environment, so I had to learn.”
Under Jones, Fort Valley State has stabilized enrollment and improved housing occupancy for students while renovating dorms for incoming freshmen. In attempts to diversify enrollment, the university has embraced border waivers while providing travel resources for students.
“This pandemic has been very challenging, but at the same time, we’re excited about connecting, bringing people back together safely,” Jones said. “I think we’ve navigated [the pandemic] fairly well. From a mental health perspective, when you start talking about social distance, and you say college, the two ideas don’t belong in the same sentence. We had to do a lot in a very short time.”
According to Jones, the current freshmen class received a better sense of normalcy for their transition to college life compared to the year prior due to the improvements to student life, events participation, and deeper understanding of COVID-19. The university currently provides vaccinations on campus, monitors attendance at events, enforces social distancing and regularly cleans and disinfects classrooms.
In addition to its undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Fort Valley State University also provides education and assistance in 35 Georgia counties through its cooperative extension program. Jones said the university is continuously looking for ways to improve student life and education opportunities during his term and is excited for the future of FVSU.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 7:00 AM.