The team working together in the Division of Student Affairs will not be split apart.
Jenny Hall-Jones will now serve as Ohio University’s Dean of Students, after holding the interim dean position for 11 months.
Ryan Lombardi, Vice President for Student Affairs, said Hall-Jones proved to be a good fit as dean of students because of her strong relationship with students.
“We had three very good candidates, but I had the chance to see her grow in the past 11 months,” he said.
Lombardi said Hall-Jones held the dean position at a difficult point because the division was understaffed.
With Hall-Jones serving as interim dean, there were only three workers in the office of four or five, so she and the Office had to work together to get everything accomplished.
“We worked together to make sure we were still catering to the student,” she said.
Within her 11 months as interim dean of students, Hall-Jones worked to revitalize the language of Title IX regarding sexual misconduct and started a suicide prevention group, planning to increase the group’s outreach.
She said she also intends to increase connections between the diversity groups that used to work within Student Affairs, such as the International Student and Faculty Center and the LGBT Center.
“One of the things that came out of the interview process was feeling a gap there,” Hall-Jones said.
Nick Southall, president of OU Student Senate, said he is excited to continue his relationship with Hall-Jones, which he developed by attending UFund meetings with her as chairperson.
“We know each other on a pretty eye to eye level,” Southall said. “I think that Dr. Hall-Jones has been a tremendous advocate for students.”
Her ability to relate with OU students convinced Lombardi to hire Hall-Jones, he said.
While serving as an interim dean, Hall-Jones said she most enjoyed building her relationship with students.
As a graduate of the university, Hall-Jones said her passion for OU and its students grew while serving as interim dean, and she is excited to continue in that position.
“I love this place, and I love my work, and my passion came through in the interview,” she said.
dk123111@ohiou.edu
