DMSA’s Jones promoted (Photo by Austin Kilgore, The Daily Campus)

Jennifer Jones has been promoted to Assistant Dean of Student Life/Director of Student Activities and Multicultural Student Affairs.

Jones has worked in various student service positions at SMU since graduating from the Hilltop in 1985, and most recently served the university as Director of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Jones’ promotion comes as part of a reorganization of the Student Affairs Division. Outgoing Director of Student Activities Arlene Manthey is now the Student Affairs Development Officer, and her former responsibilities have now been encompassed into Jones’ position.

With Jones now overseeing both Student Activities and Multicultural Student Affairs, university officials hope there will be greater collaboration between students and student groups. To increase this collaboration, the wall that separated the DMSA and the SAC has been removed.

“It’s a big change and a great change,” Jones said. “I’m living in a world of possibilities.”

Jones said that in addition to the renovations in the student center, students can expect to see increased and improved programming that utilizes the skills of both departments.

Jones said the changes in the structure of the two departments will enhance both departments. She said the mission of the DMSA is to be a support system for minority students as well as help minority students migrate into the mainstream campus community. Jones said the DMSA has traditionally been a place where students can come and hang out. Now that the wall is gone, students who spend time in the SAC and students who spend time in the DMSA will have the opportunity to interact and work together.

“We will make an environment where students can lounge and where work can be done as well,” Jones said.

One of Jones’ new roles will be advising the Student Senate.

In an email message, Student Body President Taylor Russ said, “Jennifer Jones is going to be a wonderful advisor for Student Senate. She has been working with students at SMU for over 20 years and I believe she will bring a unique and fresh perspective to student activities. As students, we are very lucky to have someone so dedicated and experienced to lead us as Assistant Dean of Student Life.”

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life Dee Siscoe said increased “communication and interaction between student groups will have students working together on a variety of projects.”

Officials said they would like to see student groups who do similar programming combine their resources to enhance the opportunities and services for students.

To aid in these goals, the university is in the process of hiring a slew of new employees in the Student Life area. Jones said the university was in the final steps of offering a job to a candidate to replace outgoing Program Council advisor Traci Ray. In addition, Student Life has begun the process of hiring assistant directors of student activities and multicultural affairs. Siscoe said she is confident all the positions would be filled before the start of the fall semester.