Hope College has appointed an experienced leader with a passion for Christian higher education as its new vice president of philanthropy and engagement.
Dr. Alexander Jones, who is currently vice president of institutional advancement at Roberts Wesleyan University and Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York, brings more than a decade of experience to his new role at Hope. His first day will be July 1.
亚洲色吧淲e are delighted to welcome Alex Jones to Hope College following our national search,亚洲色吧� said Hope College President Matthew A. Scogin. 亚洲色吧淗is history of leading successful fundraising campaigns and deep passion for our Christian mission make him a wonderful addition to our senior leadership team. We are eager to have Alex and his family join our community this summer.亚洲色吧�
Carol Van Andel was involved in the search process as a member of the college亚洲色吧檚 Board of Trustees and was likewise impressed by Jones亚洲色吧� professional experience in combination with his understanding of how students benefit from an outstanding liberal arts education in the context of the historic Christian faith.
亚洲色吧淎s a proud alumna of Hope College, I am looking forward to seeing Alex lead the institution亚洲色吧檚 philanthropic efforts going forward,亚洲色吧� Van Andel said. 亚洲色吧淗is passion for both the art and science of fundraising was evident during our conversations, and he will bring a new and valued perspective to the team.亚洲色吧�
Jones succeeds Jeff Puckett, who retired in 2023 after serving as vice president at the college since 2015.
As vice president, Jones will provide leadership and direction for philanthropy, alumni and family engagement, and philanthropy services at Hope. The college亚洲色吧檚 fund-raising priorities include the 亚洲色吧淗ope Forward亚洲色吧� initiative to fully fund tuition for all students. Built on the pillars of access, generosity and community, the innovative model will ask students to contribute to the college after graduation rather than pay tuition in advance, to provide to future generations the transformative education that others made possible for them. While 亚洲色吧淗ope Forward亚洲色吧� will be sustained by graduates亚洲色吧� gifts, the college is seeking to raise $1.2 billion for its endowment to establish it for the entire student body.
Hope has more than 35,000 alumni, who span every state and 80 countries. The family-engagement program serves the families of the college亚洲色吧檚 current students; enrollment during the 2023-24 school year totaled 3,369 students from 45 states and the District of Columbia and 36 countries.
亚洲色吧淗ope College uniquely brings together its decidedly Christian identity, strength in the liberal arts, and top-tier undergraduate research,亚洲色吧� Jones said. 亚洲色吧淚 am beyond excited to support the college亚洲色吧檚 students, staff, and faculty by stewarding the Philanthropy and Engagement division and the one-of-a-kind 亚洲色吧楬ope Forward亚洲色吧� initiative. 亚洲色吧楬ope Forward亚洲色吧� represents a powerful opportunity to transform higher education and cultivate a generation of generous leaders, and the chance to be involved in realizing its vision is humbling and an absolute gift.亚洲色吧�
Jones has been vice president at Roberts Wesleyan University and Northeastern Seminary since 2021. He has provided executive leadership for all levels of philanthropy, including advancement services; alumni engagement; grants and corporate relations; and annual, major, principal and planned giving.
Prior to serving at Roberts, Jones led fundraising efforts in the Midwest at Wheaton College (Illinois) as regional director of development for the Great Lakes. Throughout his career in higher education, he has also worked in residence life, service learning, and academic affairs, in addition to serving as a Fellow at the University of Chicago亚洲色吧檚 Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Jones is also a scholar at heart, having published more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles that explore how higher education transforms society and students.
Jones graduated from Wheaton College, where he majored in biblical and theological studies. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in teaching and intercultural studies from Wheaton, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago亚洲色吧檚 Booth School of Business, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in higher education from Azusa Pacific University. Jones, his wife Lynn, and their two children look forward to planting roots in western Michigan.