The College of Arts and Humanities welcomed English alumna Heather Simmons Jones ’97, M ’12 back to campus on September 23, 2025 for the kick-off of the Degrees of Success: Real Career Stories from Humanities Alumni speaker series.
Simmons Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Spanish and History and a Master of Human Resource Development from Clemson. In her presentation, Simmons Jones discussed her own career journey, emphasizing the importance of taking chances to find your true passion.
“Always answer the call,” she said, referencing an interview she took for a job she wasn’t sure about. “Don’t get stuck on the right answer. Be willing to let your plan evolve.”
Simmons Jones ended up taking that job and learned she was passionate about economic development, a field she wouldn’t have considered if she hadn’t taken a chance.
While taking chances is a vital part of the process, Simmons Jones emphasized that the goal of exploring different opportunities is not just to find a job. “I don’t want to wake up to go to a job,” she said. “I want to wake up to find purpose. So find your purpose. Don’t find your career.”
In her own career, finding purpose means leveraging policy to support communities. Simmons Jones noted that her job doesn’t fall in the traditional pathways assumed for English majors, but it is rooted in the foundational skills her humanities degree taught her: close reading, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and many more.
Simmons Jones ended the evening by encouraging students in the versatility of their humanities skills. “Remember that humanities study is really a foundation for any job,” she said. “You are going to have the best foundation going forward.”
Alumni interested in sharing their stories with the College of Arts and Humanities are encouraged to reach out to Director of Development and Unit Lead Alma Garcia at aegarci@clemson.edu.
