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Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones ’95

Executive Vice President for University Relations and General Counsel
Interim Chief Operations Officer

Aaron has been with the university since 2011. Previously, he served as chief of staff to the president and prior to that, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Continuing Professional Studies. Aaron is responsible for collaborating with the president and all institutional stakeholders to improve unity, decisiveness and empowerment through communications, coordination and transparency across the university. He serves as the university’s general counsel.

A 1995 graduate of Drury University, Aaron holds a J.D. and LL.M. from the University of Missouri School of Law. In addition to practicing law, he has also served as a municipal prosecutor and judge. He is a past president of the Drury University Alumni Association and a former member of the Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

  • Provides general oversight and supervision for enrollment, recruitment, operational and personnel management within CCPS in Springfield and satellite campuses.
  • In collaboration with academic affairs, develops and maintains strategies for retention and degree completion of CCPS students.
  • Develop and manage CCPS budget with a focus on revenue goals.
  • Establish strategic partnerships with businesses to develop training and academic programming.
  • Coordinates community and church relations, serving as the primary contact for relations with external groups and organizations in Springfield.
  • Oversees legal affairs, property and land transactions, while collaborating with the CFO and the board on the management of capital building improvements.
  • Helps drive donor relations efforts and manage the day-to-day operations in Advancement.
  • Additionally, he manages Drury’s Parent Council, supervises alumni relations activities, works with the deans to review, evaluate and coordinate all external relations and stewardship of external advisory boards, including the Breech Advisory Board, and oversees special projects.
  • Works closely with Dr. Beth Harville to prepare for the Higher Learning Commission visit in 2020.