Blackburn Institute

Community Member Spotlight: Mrs. Ann Jones

December 2, 2010

As an advisory board member of the Blackburn Institute, Ann Jones has served her community and this university well.  Jones, originally from Pennsylvania, attended The University and received a degree in Math with minors in education and English. It was during her time as the President of the Associated Women Students that Jones served on the Board of Publications with Dr. Blackburn.  It was the friendship they formed during her time as a student that would eventually lead to her involvement with the Blackburn Institute.

After graduating, Jones married and moved to Mobile, Alabama. She spent the next few years engaging the community while she cared for her children. She volunteered with various organizations, served as the president of Mobile Junior League, and played the string bass in the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. When her children were in high school, Jones began her teaching career at UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile.

It was just a coincidence that Jones ran into Dr. Blackburn in New Orleans, Louisiana where he first told her about the Blackburn Institute. Jones said of their encounter, “All he said was: ‘I have something I want you to do.’” Jones has served on the Advisory Board since then and believes the Institute is “an extremely important part of the UA community, because it helps students develop leadership skills and awareness of the issues that are important to the future of the state of Alabama.” Jones said her favorite part of serving on the advisory board is getting to work with students and to watch them grow. Jones is amazed at how aware today’s students are of public affairs and politics. When she was a student, she was focused on campus activities and issues, and says it’s nice to see a shift to a wider array of topics.

In addition to serving as an advisory board member, Jones has had many other opportunities to give back to the UA community.  Jones has served on the College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Board and as co-chair of The University’s National Capital Campaign: Our Students. Our Future.  Under Jones’s leadership, the capital campaign raised over $613,000,000 for The University, over half of which was used for scholarships for UA students.

Jones has thoroughly enjoyed being able to give back to The University and it’s students, and her experience doing so makes her a valuable asset to the Institute as an advisory board member. She offers one piece of advice for current Blackburn students: “Students need to follow their passions and their hearts. Take academics seriously, but enjoy your college career. It’s a wonderful time.”

-Stephanie Ballard, 2010 Blackburn Fellow

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