First woman assistant to vice president retires after 13 years

Carolyn Jones

By Jenny Jones
Summer Reporter

Carolyn Jones has always wanted to retire at a time when she still has energy and vitality. On Aug. 31, Jones, associate executive vice president for academic affairs, will do just that.

Retiring after approximately 13 years in the position, Jones is looking forward to becoming involved in the community, golfing, traveling and photo taking in her free time.

"There are a lot of things in life that I would really like to do and it's time to try them," Jones said. "I can go out and really enjoy all these things I see out there, that to me, are exciting opportunities."

This is not the first time Jones will be seeking new opportunities, however.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in history from DePaul University, Jones began teaching junior high school. "At that point I wanted to get out and work," she said.

While teaching history, Jones discovered that being around the students was refreshing for her. "(The junior high school students) were still enthused about things," she said. "They were eager to learn."

Following her four-year career as a junior high teacher, Jones returned to school at Michigan State for her master's degree. She then went on to receive her doctorate from the University of Illinois.

While working on her dissertation for her doctorate in 1971, Jones began working at Purdue in the Office of the Dean of Women, a position that was to last a year.

"I would, by then, have my dissertation finished and be ready to go out into the job market," Jones said. "But I fell in love with Purdue, I really did, and desperately hoped there would be an opportunity here for me to stay."

In August of 1972 an opening came as the assistant to the vice president of student services. Accepting the position, Jones became the first woman assistant to the vice president.

"I was absolutely delighted."

Then, in the mid-1980's, Jones became associate executive vice president for academic affairs, the position that she is retiring from in August.

"I really fell in love with the University, not only because it was a major research, which was the kind of environment in which I wanted to work, the kind of people that I enjoy working with were the kinds of people that I found here," Jones said.

One of these people that Jones has had the opportunity to work with was Bob Ringel, professor of audiology speech sciences.

Jones is a great friend, fantastic person and she possesses an "absolutely spectacular work ethic," Ringel said.

Although Ringel has known Jones for over 20 years, the first day he began working with Jones, as executive vice president, provided an example of what he was in for.

The person who held the executive vice president position prior to Ringel had left the office just a few hours before RIngel was scheduled to arrive at the office to fulfill the position.

There was no time to have someone come in and clean his office. So, Jones, who was set on getting the office cleaned before Ringel arrived, got out the furniture polish and began cleaning the office herself.

"When I got there she was literally under my desk," Ringel said.

No one needed to tell Jones to do anything, she just did it, Ringel said. "I give her an A++++, I give her all A's, on being a fantastic colleague."

Jones said she will miss the people she has worked with, but she will remain in the Lafayette area and continue to attend Purdue's football and basketball games. "This is home, this is where the friends are," she said.