Robert J. Jones
Robert Jones | |
|---|---|
Jones in 2023 | |
| 34th President of the University of Washington | |
| Assumed office August 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ana Mari Cauce |
| 10th Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | |
| In office September 26, 2016 – June 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Phyllis Wise |
| Succeeded by | Charles Lee Isbell Jr. |
| 19th President of the State University of New York at Albany | |
| In office January 1, 2013 – September 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | George Philip |
| Succeeded by | Havidan Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 74–75) Dawson, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | Fort Valley State University (BS) University of Georgia (MS) University of Missouri (PhD) |
| Signature | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Agronomy |
| Institutions | University of Minnesota State University of New York at Albany University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Washington |
| Thesis | Yield components, respiration, and photosynthesis of contrasting genotypes of tall fescue (1978) |
Robert James Jones[1] (born 1951) is an American crop physiologist, currently serving as the 34th president of the University of Washington since August 2025.
He served as the 10th chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from September 2016 to June 2025 and as the 19th president of the State University of New York at Albany from January 2013 to September 2016.
Education
Jones received a bachelor's degree in agronomy from Fort Valley State College in Georgia, a master's degree in crop physiology from the University of Georgia,[2] and a doctorate in crop physiology from the University of Missouri.[3][4]
Career
University of Minnesota
Jones worked at the University of Minnesota for 34 years in many positions: a professor in agronomy and plant genetics, executive vice provost, and senior vice president for academic administration from 2004 to 2013.[3][5] The University of Minnesota's Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center was named after Jones.[6][7]
State University of New York at Albany
Following his career at the University of Minnesota, Jones served as the president of the State University of New York at Albany from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure, he created the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.[3]
2016 racial assault hoax
Jones made national headlines for presiding over a racial hoax that was reported as a race-motivated assault against three African-American women on January 30, 2016, on a campus bus.[8] Based upon a police report at the time, Jones firmly declared in a public announcement that "early this morning, three of our students were harassed and assaulted while riding a bus in Albany. I am deeply concerned, saddened and angry about this incident. There is no place in the UAlbany community for violence, no place for racial intolerance and no place for gender violence.".[9] Later video evidence showed that the trio was not assaulted and were instead aggressors in the incident.[10][11][12] Students and observers criticized Jones as rushing to judgement,[10] while Jones refused to apologize stating that he made his remark based upon the police report at that time.[12] Jones later announced that the university expelled two of the students and suspended the third for violating the student code of conduct.[13]
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
On July 19, 2016, Jones was named as the 10th chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pending approval of the Board of Trustees at its July 21 meeting.[14] According to Jones, leaving the State University of New York at Albany was one of the most difficult decisions he had to make in his academic career.[15] With his chancellorship appointment, Jones also received a tenured faculty position at the Department of Crop Sciences at the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.[3]
On November 13, 2024, Jones announced he would be stepping down from the chancellorship and leave the office on June 30, 2025.[16][17]
University of Washington
On February 3, 2025, the University of Washington Board of Regents named Jones as the incoming 34th president of the University of Washington, succeeding Ana Mari Cauce, under a five-year contract effective August 1, 2025[18][19][20]
Personal life
Jones was a tenor singer[21] in Sounds of Blackness, a vocal ensemble from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area[22] that sings gospel, soul, and R&B.[21]
See also
- List of chancellors of the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
- List of University at Albany people
References
- ^ "Yield Components, Respiration, and Photosynthesis of Contrasting Genotypes of Tall Fescue". ProQuest 302880791. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Robert James (1975). Calcium requirements of peanut pods and calcium mobility in the pegging zone (M.S.). University of Georgia. OCLC 4616777.
- ^ a b c d "Meet the Chancellor". September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Jones, Robert James (1978). Yield components, respiration, and photosynthesis of contrasting genotypes of tall fescue (PhD). University of Missouri. OCLC 4616777. ProQuest 302880791.
- ^ "University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen on July 19th named Robert J. Jones chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign". Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ "Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach–Engagement Center". Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "Robert J. Jones named chancellor at Urbana-Champaign". July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Lawrence, J.P. (May 6, 2016). "UAlbany women who claimed bus attack kicked out of school". Times Union. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "SUNY must come down hard on students who made up a 'racial assault'". March 2016. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b "New U of I chancellor tangled in recent racial rush-to-judgement case". July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ Bump, Bethany (July 19, 2016). "UAlbany President Robert Jones leaving to lead University of Illinois flagship campus". Times Union. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b "Jones: I Won't Apologize for Bus Assault Response". Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "University Expels 2, Suspends 1 Accused of Lying About 'Racial Attack'". NBC News. May 6, 2016. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "Introducing Dr. Robert J. Jones". July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Bump, Bethany (July 20, 2016). "UAlbany President Robert Jones leaving to lead University of Illinois flagship campus". Times Union. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Jones 'ending tenure' as U of I Chancellor". wcia.com. November 13, 2024.
- ^ "University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor to step down at end of academic year". AP News. November 15, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Daily, Piper Davidson The (February 3, 2025). "Robert Jones selected as next UW President by Board of Regents". The Daily of the University of Washington. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ Daily, Sofia Schwarzwalder The (June 12, 2024). "UW President Ana Mari Cauce to step down in 2025". The Daily of the University of Washington. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ Balta, Victor. "Robert J. Jones named 34th president of the University of Washington". UW News. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- ^ a b Vielkind, Jimmy (September 12, 2012). "Scientist, singer new UAlbany president". Times Union. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "Robert J. Jones". Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2017.