Paul Anthony Jones announced as USU’s Commencement keynote speaker
To Paul Anthony Jones, the president of Fort Valley State University and award-winning Utah State University alumnus, speaking at USU’s 136th annual commencement is like coming home.
“There is no better recognition when your own home, your own community, says to you that they’re proud of you — or that they’re proud of what you’ve been able to do with education,” Jones said.
In addition to acting as the commencement speaker, Jones will receive an honorary doctorate degree at the ceremony on May 4.
“We are honored that president Jones has accepted our invitation to address our students this year. He is a visionary leader and strategic thinker whose contributions to Utah State over the years have been invaluable,” USU President Noelle Cockett said in a Utah State Today article. “His message to our graduating students, alumni, and the Aggie community will undoubtedly be inspiring and informative.”
Joseph Ward, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, was one of the several individuals that nominated Jones to the honor of commencement speaker.
“Dr. Jones stood out, in my view, as an outstanding example of how an Aggie can make a difference in the world,” Ward said.
The South Central Los Angeles native graduated with both a bachelor’s and master’s from USU — where he competed in both track and field and football. He and his wife, who was also a USU graduate, were both named USU Alumni of the year in 2012.
That’s just the beginning when it comes to Jones’ accomplishments.
From 2002 to 2013, Jones served at Georgia College & State University as a senior vice president for finance and administration, vice president and chief of staff, vice president for institutional research, vice president of academic affairs, among other senior leadership roles.
Jones then began his service at FVSU as president in December 2015. Since then, the historically Black college has experienced several successes — including skyrocketed retention and graduation rates, and the highest enrollment since the 2013 fall semester.
As the youngest of 10 children, with parents who didn’t graduate high school, Jones said that while education was important to his family, discovering his aspirations was no easy task — but USU is where he began his path to success.
“The university provided a support infrastructure — and while, in some cases, I’m not even sure I was deserving of it, it really supported the dreams that I had,” Jones said. “I will be forever grateful for that.”
According to Jones, USU connected him to services and organizations that enabled him to continue onto a journey that later put him in a position to become involved in higher education, including becoming president of FSVU.
“It helped me see that I can actually do some good and give back in this area,” Jones said.
Jones noted that, while he felt like he didn’t fit in at times, USU opened his eyes when he embraced the culture of the university and learned to accept and understand those around him.
“I think the reason I’m here today is because of the way Utah State helped me see the world differently,” Jones said. “I had some really special people there who helped me get engaged, helped me see the possibilities.”
One of the best ways to connect with others is to avoid fearing differences, and that includes honoring diversity on campus, according to Jones.
Currently, Jones’ son, Isaiah Jones, serves as USU’s senior director for diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We have to try to break down those barriers so that people can go beyond their fears. I think, you know, what better place — what better example — to set that than a place like Utah State where we can begin to break down some of those barriers,” Jones said.
Jones also noted the importance of the principles that he learned while competing in USU sports — principles such as discipline and teamwork, principles that are not just essential in competition, but in community.
“We really create a community of scholars, that we really create a community that deeply understands and values the world that we are all living in and trying to live in together,” Jones said. “That’s what makes America, I think the America we all want to embrace and love.”
Other Honorary Degree Recipients:
In addition to Jones, Mia B. Love, Gary E. Stevenson, and Jonathan W. Bullen will receive honorary degrees of their own.
A previous US Congress member representing Utah’s fourth Congressional District (2015-2019), Love has had her share of working for political unity on the national and local level. Love has not just worked as a city councilor and mayor, but is working on the Board of Directors for Security National Financial Corporation.
Love has advocated for issues including limiting government overreach, expanding pro-life rights, and immigration reform — Love also being the daughter of two Haitian immigrants.
Despite her national fame, Love hasn’t forgotten her local roots. Currently, Love works as the national outreach coordinator for USU’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. Two of Love’s daughters have attended USU.
Stevenson is both a USU alumni and current member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
He graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration from the current Jon Huntsman School of Business. In 2012, Stevenson received the Huntsman’s Distinguished Executive Alumnus Award.
Bullen, president and CEO of Colmena Group, is heavily involved in real estate redevelopment and sales.
Before working in the real estate industry, he invested in the Wasatch Premier Properties. Currently, he serves on the Woodbury Strategic Partners (WSP) investment committee. WSP has generated hundreds of millions in capital success.
The USU alumnus has also had significant impacts on Logan, including serving as the Executive Director of the Capitol Arts Alliance, which has renovated Logan’s historic art theaters and programs.
-Jenny.Carpenter@usu.edu
Photo from Utah State Today