After more than a decade of service to Clemson University, Robert H. (Bob) Jones, Clemson’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, has announced he plans to retire later this year. Jones will remain active in his role while a search begins and will continue to serve the University until a successor is named.
Provost Jones became Clemson University’s Chief Academic Officer and first Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost in September 2014. During his 10 years leading Academic Affairs, Clemson’s academic reputation continued its meteoric rise. The University grew in nearly every academic success metric including enrollment, average SAT and ACT scores, retention rates, graduation rates, research funding and expenditures and more. Provost Jones saw the reorganization of colleges, the creation of new colleges and programs and the establishment of South Carolina’s only College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Bob Jones is an amazing and brilliant scholar and leader, and his contributions to Clemson are numerous,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements. “In particular, his passion and forethought to ensure the future of Clemson’s Experimental Forest will preserve and protect that storied land for generations. I’ll remain forever grateful for his care for our faculty, staff and students through the pandemic – all while driving forth an ambitious strategic plan. While I will miss working with my dear friend and colleague, I’m excited for Bob as he begins this next phase of his life, and know he’ll remain an important voice at his alma mater for years to come.”
A two-time Clemson graduate, Provost Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in forest management in 1979 and a Master of Science in forestry in 1981. He completed his doctorate in forest ecology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse University in 1986. Before returning to Clemson, Jones served as dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University and as department head and professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the provost at my alma mater,” said Jones. “Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed the amazing passion and contributions of our faculty, staff and students as we’ve steadfastly worked to fulfil the mission of Clemson University. While I will soon end my service as Provost, I will continue to watch closely the extraordinary achievements yet to come.”
A national search for Clemson’s next provost will begin immediately. More details will be shared as the process begins.