By Francisco Duque, AASU University Relations
SAVANNAH, GA -- Thomas Z. Jones, who has led the transformation
of Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) from a quiet commuter
campus of 5,400 students to a residential university of more than
7,000 students, has announced that he will leave his post as
president of AASU effective June 30, 2009.
"This has not been an easy decision because I have truly cherished
the opportunities and challenges and the wonderful colleagues
during my time of service," said Jones. "Yet, at some point one
realizes when it is time to transition to another phase of life.
For me, that time has arrived."
After the end of his tenure in June 2009, Jones will take a brief
respite before transitioning into the University System of Georgia,
where he will serve for one year developing projects related to
institutional leadership at the request of Chancellor Erroll B.
Davis, Jr. He is also looking forward to spending more quality time
with his family, including his new granddaughter, and engaging in
more community service efforts.
"Tom Jones has done and is doing a superb job as president of
Armstrong Atlantic State University," said Arthur Gignilliat, a
former member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.
"He has literally changed the face of the university with new
buildings, campus housing and the Armstrong Center on
Abercorn."
At AASU, Jones has been a catalyst in moving the university toward
innovative economic development enterprises. He led an effort to
establish the AASU Educational Properties Foundation, Inc. (EPFI)
in 2001 as a public-private enterprise to fund capital projects
without involving state appropriations funds.
The foundation has allowed the university to build Compass Point
apartment-style housing and buy and renovate University Terrace and
University Crossings residence halls. The purchase in 2006 of the
Armstrong Center - now home to the Department of Professional and
Continuing Education - and the planned construction of a $16
million student union, to be completed in fall 2009, also have been
managed by the foundation. In all, the university, in partnership
with its foundation, has invested more than $75 million in
instructional and student life facilities.
Building relationships with community partners has also been at the
top of his agenda. Through personal involvement and leadership in
numerous community organizations, Jones has built strong ties and
positioned Armstrong Atlantic as a valuable community resource.
"From the beginning he was dedicated to advancing leadership within
the region and had a strong desire to establish the university as
an integral part of this community," said Joe Buck, AASU vice
president of student affairs emeritus. "He understood that working
with community leaders to build a strong town-gown relationship is
a two-way street that benefits everyone."
On campus, Jones quickly became known as a president who pushed his
administration and faculty to develop initiatives enhancing
leadership skills among the students. Over time these initiatives,
involving many community partners, have become part of the fabric
of academic programs, student life, and outreach projects.
"He had a strong drive to educate students not only for today, but
wanted Armstrong Atlantic to instill in young people leadership
skills that would serve them for a lifetime," said Buck.
Additional milestones achieved by Jones during his tenure include
the university's growing collaboration with the region's healthcare
providers to educate medical professionals to meet the region's
workforce demands. Over the last few years, AASU has been able to
double its number of nursing graduates and has added a wide range
of new academic programs including nuclear medicine, cyber
security, and graduate programs in teacher education.
Jones supported the development of an arboretum that houses a
myriad plant species, both native and rare, which serves to
beautify the campus. Nursery owners and horticulturists regularly
visit from as far away as Florida and North Carolina to study plant
species.
"For the past eight years we have faced some challenges and
capitalized on some wonderful opportunities," Jones said. "Next
year we will begin to celebrate an important milestone for this
university, its seventy-fifth anniversary. It will be a time to
reflect on our rich history and to reaffirm our commitment through
new presidential leadership that can take the university into its
next 75 years."
Jones has been deeply involved in the community, serving various
community boards, including the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors, Savannah's Chief Executive Officers Council,
the Savannah Economic Development Authority Community Advisory
Board, Goodwill Industries Board of Directors, Youth Futures Board
of Directors, Savannah Rotary Club, and the United Way of the
Coastal Empire Board of Directors, serving as chair from
2006-2007.
Prior to being named president of Armstrong Atlantic, Jones served
as a faculty member and vice president for academic affairs at
Columbus State University. During his 37-year career in higher
education he has held faculty and administrative posts at Indiana
State University, Emory and Henry College (Virginia) and West
Virginia University Institute of Technology.
During his tenure at West Virginia, Jones served as the
Westmoreland Professor of Mining, an endowed professorship, as dean
of the College of Technology and Applied Sciences, and as vice
president for academic affairs.
Richard Tucker, chair of the University System of Georgia Board of
Regents, will initiate a national search process to identify
candidates to fill the post being vacated by Jones. Details of that
process will be announced in the coming months.
"Under Tom Jones' leadership, his faculty and staff have enhanced
Armstrong Atlantic's long held tradition of academic excellence. We
are indeed fortunate that Tom became a part of our community and I
join with many others, on and off campus, in wishing him the very
best in his future plans," said Gignilliat.
Baseball
About the PBC
