Professor of psychology Keith Jones has been named the Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development. Jones will be honored and awarded the chair at a ceremony May 8 at 4 p.m. in Graham Conference Center. After the presentation, he will give a lecture.
The Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development was established in 2005 to advance and promote teaching, learning, service and research related to the development of character and leadership skills in Central students.
It is supported by alumni benefactors Mark ’64 and Kay Kuyper De Cook ’63, both committed to the college’s mission to graduate students of high character and those who assume and develop in leadership roles in their personal, professional, community and civic lives.
The faculty member holding the chair has extensive experience in leadership positions with a proven leadership and service record. The chair must demonstrate evidence of behaviors that define character and leadership, such as honesty, integrity, humility, motivation, service for the common good, inspiring others, high moral and ethical standards and leading by example.
The work of the chair is to be done on behalf of the Central community, greater Pella community and regionally among businesses, government and society.
Jones, the second recipient of the chair, earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in psychology from the Life-Span Development program at West Virginia University. Before joining the Central College faculty in 2006, Jones taught at the University of Sioux Falls as an associate professor of psychology and was the social sciences academic area chair.
He has served as a career specialist at Buena Vista University and a psychological consultant for the West Virginia office of the attorney general, consumer protection and antitrust division. Jones also currently serves as a statistical analysis consultant for data interpretation and analysis.
In 2011, Jones was selected for the David Crichton Memorial Award as a faculty member whose exemplary teaching and scholarship shaped the intellectual development of Central students. Jones has been recognized by his alma mater and was recently named a distinguished alumnus of the West Virginia University psychology department. Jones is honored to receive to the chair.
“Many people have contributed their unique ideas and approaches to character and leadership development at Central. Now it is a matter of adding to this collaborative painting,” Jones said.
