Chris Jones has been serving the JMU community and beyond for the past 20 years. He is not one that seeks the spotlight but never backs down from taking a leadership role or helping someone else take the lead. He has helped the number of JMU’s sports clubs to grow from 30 to 52 and helped the varsity teams bring home 13 National Championships in varying sports. Chris works to make all sport clubs possible. Behind the scenes, he juggles meetings, paperwork, regulations, competitions, and emails to keep the sport club program succeeding. There are very few people who would even come close to being able to juggle the work and mental load that Chris has and does, especially while being able to do it with a smile and a positive attitude. Chris loves his job, UREC, and JMU and puts his heart into creating, maintaining, and growing the sport club community.
Under his leadership, community service has become a key factor of Chris’ legacy here at JMU. Chris has helped the athletic clubs at JMU log over 50,000 hours of community service in the Harrisonburg community. He has helped JMU students connect with the community outside of campus by aiding in the creation of events like Fall in Love with Harrisonburg. He also volunteers with Green Dot Strategy, the Madison Collaborative, and on the OSARP accountability board. Chris has helped hundreds of students give back to the community that supports this outstanding university. He truly embodies the spirit of JMU and exemplifies great leadership.
Chris continues to serve his global community by leading service trips to Nassu, Bahamas. Chris has been involved with this program since 2004. He has helped to organize and lead numerous trips. This program teaches students important skills such as teamwork and leadership skills to an economically challenged area where these sorts of opportunities are not available to children living on the island. The program has served thousands of students there and impacted hundreds of JMU students who volunteered.
Saying that Chris Jones has made an impact on our community would be an understatement. I believe that Chris has inspired JMU students to carry his legacy with them all over the world, thus creating a positive change on a global scale. Chris, we are all inspired by your leadership and devotion to helping others. We hope that this award will be a small expression of our gratitude for all the work you do, and the continued ripple effect of your global impact.