Dr. Christopher M. Jones has accepted the role of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He will begin his appointment on June 21, 2026. 

Dr. Jones brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience, including service as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Le Moyne University and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Executive Director of Academic Partnerships, Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, and Interim Provost at Bradley University. He also served as Chair of the Department of Political Science and Associate Vice Provost for University Honors at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Jones understands both the complexity and the promise of leading a comprehensive arts and sciences college within a public university setting and speaks with deep conviction about the transformative power of public higher education. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Jones has advanced student success, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary innovation. He has strengthened undergraduate research and artistry programs, expanded honors and global education, and launched new academic pathways. He is especially enthusiastic about the CLAS Voyage and sees it as a cornerstone initiative to elevate experiential learning and student agency. 

Dr. Jones also brings a strong record of student recruitment, partnership development, and fundraising. As dean, he led the development of a college-wide enrollment management strategy and a comprehensive advancement plan. These efforts significantly grew the number of new CLAS students, expanded donor engagement, and garnered impactful financial gifts to support academic departments, scholarships, and college-wide experiential learning opportunities. As executive director and vice president, Dr. Jones advanced external partnerships, including multimillion dollar agreements, that generated new resources, spurred programmatic innovation, and expanded student access and learning opportunities. 

A respected scholar and award-winning teacher of political science, Dr. Jones has built a national reputation in foreign policy analysis and international relations. Even while serving in senior leadership roles, he has continued to teach so as to remain closely connected to the student and faculty experience. 

Throughout the search, what stood out most was his commitment to shared governance, inclusive excellence, and visible, engaged leadership. He speaks about building a “One CLAS” culture—grounded in trust, transparency, and collaboration—where the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary fields thrive together. 

This approach aligns closely with the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework. As we strengthen our foundations, expand high-impact learning, and deepen interdisciplinary and community partnerships, CLAS plays a central role. Dr. Jones’ experience stewarding resources, leading complex colleges, and advocating for the enduring value of liberal education positions him well to advance these priorities in strong partnership with CLAS faculty and Staff.

Please warmly welcome him to Grand Valley.