UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Patrick Jones, assistant vice president for academic affairs, online learning, at Drexel University, has been named chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill, effective Jan. 4, 2019.
Patrick Jones has been named chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill, effective Jan. 4, 2019.
Jones succeeds Kelly Austin, who was named associate vice president for administration in the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses in August 2017. Darcy Medica, director of academic affairs and associate professor of biology at Penn State Schuylkill, served in the role in an interim capacity during a national search.
Jones, who is a Pennsylvania native and earned a doctorate in music education from Penn State, has more than 30 years of experience in the field of education as an academic administrator, professor and band conductor. In addition to his academic career, Jones concurrently served for 30 years in the U.S. Army and Air Force, during which time he was commander of the 553rd Air Force Band and the chief of Air National Guard Bands, among other roles. In 2011, he retired from the Air National Guard as a colonel, the highest rank attainable by band officers.
“We are delighted for Dr. Jones to be joining our Penn State Schuylkill community,” said Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor at Penn State. “He is an innovative and accomplished leader with years of experience in curricular and strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and constituent relations. I am confident the wealth of experiences and expertise he brings — coupled with his vision for Penn State Schuylkill — will build on the campus’s long-standing history of excellence and realize significant progress in the years ahead.”
As chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill, Jones will be responsible for the quality of academic programs in teaching, research and service; strategic planning; budgeting; philanthropy; faculty and staff development; outreach; and community and alumni relations at the campus.
Throughout his career in higher education, Jones has served in a variety of administrative roles, including as assistant vice president for academic affairs, online learning at Drexel University; director of Veteran Enrollment Practice at Syracuse University; professor and director of the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University; dean of the School of Arts at Utah Valley University; and chair of the Music Education Department at Boston University.
“I am honored to be joining the impressive team at Penn State Schuylkill,” Jones said. “The dedication of the faculty, staff and advisory board members is evident, and students’ accomplishments are notable — being accepted into top graduate programs, conducting research on campus and abroad, and engaging in community service that improves people’s lives. I look forward to continuing to build on the University’s land-grant mission for the 21st century through providing high-quality education, advancing research that addresses pressing problems, and positioning Penn State Schuylkill as a valued neighbor that serves the region through community engagement and economic development activities.”
In his current role at Drexel University, Jones partners with colleges and academic departments to develop and grow programs for online students; leads efforts to boost enrollment, retention and diversity of the student body; and serves on the university’s strategic planning committee. As director of Veteran Enrollment Practice at Syracuse University, he developed successful university-wide strategies to increase the number of veterans, military personnel and military family members enrolled at the university.
Throughout his own career in the armed forces, Jones climbed the ranks to colonel while serving in a variety of capacities from musician to unit commander to program manager. As chief of Air National Guard Bands for more than a decade, Jones was responsible for units across the country and a worldwide mission, encompassing troop entertainment in deployed locations throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa. For his service, he was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal and Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal.
As a professor of music and an accomplished musician, Jones has taught a variety of courses in the history and philosophy of music education, curriculum development and assessment, instrumental conducting, and research at the graduate, undergraduate and secondary-education levels.
Jones has held leadership positions in national and international scholarly societies, including the International Society for Music Education, National Association for Music Education and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and has served as a member of editorial boards and as an external reviewer for scholarly publications and research grants.
As a scholar of music education, Jones’ research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Music Educators Journal, International Journal of Community Music, Arts Education Policy Review, Journal of Band Research and other publications such as the Oxford Handbook of Music Education and Policy and the Political Life of Music Education, among others.
Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from West Chester University, diploma of fine arts in conducting and wind literature from University of Calgary, master’s degree in conducting from George Mason University and doctor of philosophy in music education from Penn State. He also is a graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.
