KINGSTON, R.I. – August 27, 2012 – The University of Rhode Island has appointed Carnell Jones, Jr. to the position of director of Enrollment Services. Prior to this appointment, Jones served as registrar at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. URI Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Dr. Dean Libutti, made the announcement following a national search. Jones began his duties at the University’s Kingston Campus earlier this month.
“We are pleased that Dr. Carnell Jones Jr. will be joining us as director of Enrollment Services. This is a critical position that affects the services and support of our students, faculty and staff. I am confident that his 15 years of experience and strong focus on customer service will support our efforts to enhance our one-stop office that includes records and registration, financial aid, and bursar,” said Libutti.
“I have been a registrar for years and have worked very closely with the independent bursar and financial aid offices. Now to be appointed to manage the entire suite of services that students need — from matriculation to graduation — is a logical next step and is very exciting,” said Jones. “URI is a major player in a major area and it’s a place where I can take my energy and skills and really roll up my sleeves. I’m very excited to join the University of Rhode Island.”
Jones will direct URI’s Office of Enrollment Services that includes registration, records, billing, and financial aid for all full-time undergraduate (13,000) and graduate (3,262) students as well as thousands of part-time students. He will report to Vice Provost Dean Libutti.
Just prior to joining the University, Jones served as registrar for the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, a position he held since 2005. In 2008 his service was interrupted for one year as he was asked to serve as director of the Admissions Office during a leadership change. At UMass as registrar, Jones was responsible for managing the services related to enrollment, registration, grade reporting, Veteran Affairs, and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance for that school’s population of about 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Prior to joining UMass, Jones served in several higher education enrollment management and related positions. He was University Registrar/Director of Enrollment Management for the Harris-Stowe State University- Saint Louis, Mo., from 2002 to 2005; Assistant University Registrar from 2000 to 2002; and Accounts Supervisor for Student Financial Services and Bursar’s Office from 1998 to 2000 for the Southeast Missouri State University- Cape Girardeau, Mo.
In addition to his enrollment services leadership positions, Jones also has served as adjunct faculty at his previous institutions. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of political science, public policy, leadership and management, and educational leadership.
Jones holds a B.S. in Political Science, and an M.S. in Public Administration from Southeast Missouri State University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of MIssouri-Columbia. His research interests are in the areas of student persistence and retention and his doctoral dissertation examined the implementation and use of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) within Enrollment Management.
Jones, and his wife, April, have three children and live in Swansea, Mass.
Photo by Nora Lewis