Dr. Jim Jones graduated from Unity in 1966 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as an aircraft loadmaster for four years. He was stationed at the South Pole and onboard the U.S.S. Roosevelt prior to being discharged in 1971. Dr. Jones received a B.S. in Political Science from Moorhead State University in 1975. In 1988, he completed his M. Ed. and Ph.D. in Human Resource Development at the University of Illinois. Dr. Jones was an adjunct professor with Parkland College, St. Francis College and Charleston Southern University. Over 20 years of adjunct teaching experience provided an opportunity for him to teach full-time for Charleston Southern University. In June of 2006, Dr. Jones began teaching and assisting in the Bachelor of Management Arts degree program. He specializes in talent-based organizational development and has provided consulting for numerous professional organizations and corporations within the Charleston area. Dr. Jones serves as the Vice Chairperson of the local Trident Workforce Investment Board and will become the Chairperson in July 2008. This tri-county community board provides avenues and funding for the local workforce to improve, enhance and develop skills that will help them become a more productive employee while increasing the economic base within the Charleston area.
While at Trident Health Systems, Dr. Jones worked to establish two medically related schools: radiological technology and the certified medical assistant program. The radiology school has graduated more than 100 students. The Certified Nursing Assistant program has provided more than 400 individuals an opportunity to find employment, develop applied skills and enter the healthcare field. Dr. Jones had over 30 years of management experience prior to his retirement as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources in 2005. He and his wife Salle currently live on a small hobby farm outside of Charleston, South Carolina with their four German Shepard's.