Resolution to Honor the Late Penn State Vice Provost W. Terrell Jones

(Terrell Jones)

It is with great sorrow that I report the recent passing of Terrell Jones, whose presence we will miss greatly here at Penn State.  To honor his memory the Penn State University Faculty Senate will consider the following resolution to honor Dr. Jones at its next meeting.

Resolution to Honor the Late Vice Provost W. Terrell Jones

WHEREAS, W. Terrell Jones, Vice Provost for Educational Equity, earned both his master's and doctoral degrees at The Pennsylvania State University; and

WHEREAS, Vice Provost Jones was responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, articulating, and advocating the University’s goals, policies, and procedures pertaining to equal opportunity for under-represented faculty, staff, and students; and

WHEREAS, Vice Provost Jones was a dedicated colleague and friend who championed diversity initiatives and equity for faculty, staff and students at Penn State; and

WHEREAS, Vice Provost Jones was very passionate about transforming the lives and contributing to the success of our first-generation and low-income students, and author of “The Realities of Diversity and the Campus Climate for First-Year Students”; and 

WHEREAS; Vice Provost Jones was an affiliate faculty member of the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Penn State, and taught courses on race relations and cross-cultural counseling; and

WHEREAS, Vise Provost Jones was instrumental in establishing a "Trustee Scholarship" through the Senate Committee on Educational Equity and Campus Environment; and

WHEREAS, Vice Provost Jones was a board member of the International Partnership for Service Learning and served as President of the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State University was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to know and work with Vice Provost Jones for so many years,

Be it resolved that,

(1) The University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University mourns the passing of Vice Provost Jones and expresses its deepest condolences to his family and friends

(2) The University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University recognizes the many significant contributions of Vice Provost Jones in leading the implementation of the University’s strategic plan that embraces and supports diversity and that made the University a better place.

(3) The University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University with deep sorrow acknowledges the passing of Vice Provost Jones as an immeasurable loss for Penn State, the Centre Region, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(4) The University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University honors Vice Provost Jones not only for the impact of his contributions to Penn State, but also for the exceptional person that he was.