On Tuesday, The Ohio State University announced the recommended appointment of Norman W. Jones, PhD, as interim dean and director of The Ohio State University at Mansfield. He serves currently as associate dean for the campus. Subject to approval by Ohio State’s Board of Trustees, Jones will begin his one-year appointment on July 1.
As associate dean, Dr. Jones oversees the curriculum and development of academic programs on the Mansfield campus, supervising associated faculty and assisting in the supervision of tenure-track faculty. In addition, he helps manage the campus instructional budget and oversees academic advising.
Dr. Jones will continue to lead the campus in its collaboration with the Richland Community Development Group, Richland County, and the cities of Mansfield and Ontario on the Campus District initiative. He will step in to lead the campus in continuing the campus entrance redesign, scholarship endowment growth, and in eco-programming initiatives begun by outgoing dean and director, Stephen M. Gavazzi. He will also carry on his work as the regional campus representative on the University Innovation Alliance team for Ohio State, a consortium of 11 public universities across the country working to help close the gap between the number of college graduates and workforce needs in the U.S.
“I am honored and humbled to be taking on this role serving the campus and community I love, and I am excited to continue the work of collaborating with campus partners as well as Richland County community partners to build an even stronger future together,” stated Dr. Jones.
Dr. Jones joined Ohio State’s faculty in 2004 and has taught undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on American literature, the Bible, and film. He is the author of scholarly essays and books that focus on intersections among literature, religion, and sexuality; his most recent book is The Bible and Literature: The Basics. Dr. Jones has also contributed wide-ranging service on both the Mansfield and Columbus campuses. The Mansfield campus has recognized his contributions with its Award for Excellence in Scholarship and its Award for Excellence in Service. Dr. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Yale University, and he earned both a master’s degree and doctorate in English from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is Associate Professor of English. Norman and his spouse, Heidi, live in Mansfield with their son, Riley, who recently completed the second grade in the Mansfield City Schools system.
