President of Mississippi Delta Community College
Steven J. Jones, Ph.D., was only thirty-nine years old when he was appointed as the tenth president of Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) on Jan. 1 of last year. Jones is still the youngest community college president in the state and, most likely, any of the state colleges and universities.
Jones was chosen in part because he is a forward thinker, said Tonya Short, Ph.D., Chair of the MDCC Board of Trustees. “He uses his experiences, knowledge, data, and current trends to propel MDCC forward,” says Short. “I’ve learned that he cares deeply about the students, faculty, staff, and communities we serve. I love that he is a lifelong learner. He is constantly expanding his knowledge base through reading, attending conferences, and listening to the MDCC Board of Trustees’ needs and concerns. He has surrounded himself with a great leadership team that shares his vision and is helping him make MDCC the premier community college in Mississippi.”
Jones’ predecessor, Tyrone Jackson, Ed.D., President of Southeast Arkansas College, says that since Jones began serving as a graduate assistant under Jackson, he has found him to be a consummate professional.
“During my more than thirty years in higher education, at both two-year and four-year institutions, Dr. Jones ranks in the top one percent of the hardest-working leaders I have encountered in the profession,” says Jackson. “I greatly admire his strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to excellence. His humble upbringing, combined with his exceptional work ethic and intellectual capacity, makes him an ideal fit for the role of college president. I firmly believe Dr. Jones could successfully lead an institution anywhere in the country, and I am excited that he is serving as president of MDCC.”
Jones says the role has been a rewarding experience despite its complexity. “Being president is a demanding job with many moving parts,” says Jones. “I welcome the daily challenges, especially the opportunity to work with and guide people who bring different visions and goals to the table.”
Jones’ priority is to keep the focus on students at all times. Every decision is made keeping in mind how to best serve students and community partners.
“As long as we have done that, the college will be successful,” says Jones. “I love interacting with our students, seeing our students grow from the time they arrive on campus until graduation. It’s a wonderful thing to see how they develop over time. I truly enjoy helping students reach their educational goals. The most rewarding thing so far has been presenting graduates with their diplomas at commencement. It is an overwhelming feeling of joy seeing our students reach their goals and know that I played a small part in their journey.”
The work, which he considers a calling or ministry, keeps him centered and grounded. There is never a dull moment; every day is different. He and his colleagues all wish they had additional funding so more could be done for students.
“I’m calling on any and all donors who want to invest in the lives of college students to please consider giving to MDCC,” says Jones, who was born in Laurel and spent most of his childhood in Soso. “The return on your investment will be remarkable. We have a solid plan and blueprint for success. Under the banner/theme of ‘Forward Together’, we are working collaboratively at all levels to ensure our students receive the best education at the most affordable price. We are partnering with our local community, local industry, K-12, and four-year institutional partners. We recognize that we are stronger together.”
Jones says MDCC is not only affordable, but is high-quality, small, family-oriented, and local for students in its seven-county region and beyond.
“At MDCC, students are taught by the very best faculty, highly qualified through training and education,” says Jones. “Our class sizes are small, offering students the one-on-one attention they need to be successful. Our programs are top-ranked, and our students are afforded a college experience like no other. From our health science programs, many with 100 percent pass rates on national board examinations, to our vocational programs that were recently ranked in the top fifteen percent by USA Today, MDCC is leading the way.”
MDCC’s adult education program is considered among the best in the state. Its workforce programs are strong and continue to grow, offering its communities the necessary trades to help meet the needs of local businesses and industries.
“What is a degree without a job?” asks Jones. “We want our students to leave with a degree or certificate in hand and walk into the workplace ready to change the world around them for the better. More importantly, we want our students to be best positioned to find jobs that lead to sustainable living wages. If a person’s desire is to find a trade, they can do so at a community college. We mastered doing it all.”
“We are developing leaders. We focus on the student holistically. Our plan is extensive. Our vision and goals are big; however, we are already achieving many of our goals, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team. MDCC is truly on the move. Enrollment continues to increase, and we are expanding many of our programs and initiatives, such as our middle college program and prison education program.”
Jones graduated from Hinds Community College and saw the value of community colleges early on. He is proud that the state has one of the best community college systems in the nation.
“Many states look to Mississippi to see how we do it,” says Jones. “What sets our community colleges apart is our residential campus model, which allows students to fully experience campus life with engagement and activities that extend well beyond the traditional day. At the same time, we offer strong workforce and career-technical education programs, and our colleges work collaboratively—sharing ideas and building partnerships that benefit both students and industry, all while delivering a four-year–style college experience at a significantly more affordable cost.”
Jones attended Taylorsville High School in Smith County before receiving an associate’s degree in paralegal technology from Hinds Community College, a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Mississippi College, a master’s degree in Higher Education administration from Mississippi College, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from The University of Southern Mississippi. He also received a post-graduate certificate in community college leadership from USM and a post-graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from The University of South Florida.
Shortly after graduating from Hinds, he started working in healthcare administration as an office manager for Mission Primary Care Clinic in Vicksburg. He went on to work as a paralegal and law firm administrator at The Michael R. Brown Law Office, PLLC, for nearly nine years, specializing in civil litigation.
Then, he began his career in higher education at Hinds Community College as associate director of student housing and residence life. He also managed student orientation. After working in several other roles at Hinds, including managing millions of dollars in discretionary federal grant funds, he moved to MDCC in August 2019 to take a job as Vice President of Administrative Services and was later promoted to Vice President of Administrative and Student Services.
He also teaches, having previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Hinds, teaching in the paralegal technology program, and currently as an adjunct faculty member at The University of Southern Mississippi. He has also served on the advisory committee for the paralegal technology/studies programs at Hinds Community College, Holmes Community College and Tulane University. He is an Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow and a Mississippi Community College Policy Fellow.
Jones credits Barbara Blankenship, Ph.D., a mentor at Hinds, with opening his eyes to a career in higher education. He interned with Tyrone Jackson, Ph.D., then President of MDCC, while working on his master’s degree. Jones was also encouraged by his internship with Brit Katz, Ph.D., at Millsaps College during his master’s studies. Those experiences affirmed Jones’ choice of higher education as a career.
The oldest of three siblings, he often takes on the role of “BRAD,” brother and dad. His mother, Charlene, suffered a severe stroke in August 2017, which left her partially paralyzed and speech impaired. She and his younger brother have lived with him ever since.
“We have weathered the storm together, and I strive every day to show my brother Rayshawn what dedication and hard work can do for him,” says Jones. “I say often in my household, just as I say at the college, excellence is the standard. Rayshawn will be graduating from high school in May and is planning to attend Mississippi State; however, I am still working to recruit him to MDCC. My sister, Whitley, is a Certified Medical Assistant and plans to pursue a career in nursing. I’m very proud of the woman she has become.”
He doesn’t have much spare time, but he likes traveling when he can. He also enjoys keeping in shape by working out. Over the years, he has volunteered in a number of ways—serving food at the local shelter, Stewpot Community Shelter in Jackson; volunteering as a commissioner on the zoning and planning commission for the City of Vicksburg; and serving the community through his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Jones serves on the Higher Education Research and Development Institute Innovate Advisory Board, where he has the opportunity to influence the products and services that corporations across America provide to community colleges nationwide. He also lends his expertise to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges by evaluating other SACSCOC-accredited community colleges.
Photography by Shelby McCluskey