Serving as both the interim vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students as been hard for Jenny Hall-Jones.
Jenny Hall-Jones said her job as Ohio University's Dean of Students is the "best job on campus," but this year she took on an extra position.
Since July, Hall-Jones has split her time between Cutler Hall and Baker Center working as the both the interim vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
“It’s been difficult to balance because my heart really lies with the Dean of Students role,” Hall-Jones said. “I love that and I gravitate toward that a little bit more.”
Former vice president for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi left OU last year on July 3 after accepting a vice president position at Cornell University. Hall-Jones was named interim vice president for Student Affairs as part of that transition.
OU President Roderick McDavis asked Hall-Jones to fill the interim role, she said. Her last day as interim vice president is June 12 this year.
According to an email from OU Spokeswoman Katie Quaranta, Hall-Jones’ salary for the interim role this academic year is $158,500, and her salary as Dean of Students last year was $134,538. That is a difference of more than $23,000.
Lombardi’s salary for the 2014-15 academic year was $213,262, according to a public records request.
“Jenny has done a terrific job of leading our division during this time of transition,” Megan Vogel, special assistant to the vice president and director of Resource Administration, said in an email.
Though juggling the two positions is difficult, being the interim vice president for Student Affairs does have its perks, Hall-Jones said.
“I got to build relationships with people that I wouldn’t have had opportunities to build relationships with,” she said.
Hall-Jones said she had three personal goals for the division of Student Affairs this year: communication, a strategic plan and stability.
Hall-Jones has accomplished those goals and more, Vogel said.
Assistant Dean of Students Jamie Patton said Hall-Jones has done an amazing job balancing both roles.
“She has always been an advocate for students and was able keep our division moving forward during this interim period,” Patton said in an email.
Hall-Jones said she did not apply for the vice president for Student Affairs position.
“What I realized is that’s not where my heart and passion is, at least not right now in my career," Hall-Jones said. "So that was positive for me to not look back at it and go, ‘Aw, man. I should have applied.’ ”
Several people asked if she was going to apply for the position, including her husband, Hall-Jones said.
“A lot of people on campus don’t understand the difference between the two roles, and they are very different jobs,” Hall-Jones said.
On March 24, Jason Pina, an administrator from Bridgewater State University, was named the next vice president for Student Affairs.
Pina will begin his position June 13 and his salary next year will be $245,000, according to public records request.
“I’m very optimistic about the division’s future and where he’s going to take us,” Vogel said in an email. “He and Jenny are already regularly communicating, they are going to be a really great team, I look forward to what’s to come.”
Pina will bring new ideas and perspectives to the department, Patton said.
Currently, Pina serves as the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment at Bridgewater State University.
“He’s already been a vice president for a couple of years,” Hall-Jones said. “Our last couple vice presidents that have come to OU have come as promotions.”
Hall-Jones said she met Pina a few years ago at conference Lombardi encouraged her to attend.
“(Lombardi) said to me, 'There are three people you need to meet at the institute and Jason Pina is one of them,' ” Hall-Jones said.
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Even though it was hard letting go of some of her Dean of Students duties, Associate Dean of Students Patricia McSteen did a lot of the day-to-day responsibilities, Hall-Jones said.
“It’s hard to step back and have somebody else do your job,” Hall-Jones said.
@megankhenry
