Teaching

Dr. Jones returned to academia after several years in the food industry, earning her Ph.D. in food science and beginning her University of Nebraska career in 2001 teaching introductory foods, food safety, and sanitation. She found her greatest joy in watching students develop a genuine interest in food, and she centered her teaching on helping people understand and appreciate food from both cultural and nutritional perspectives.

Extension

Dr. Jones’ Extension work spanned local, national, and international efforts to improve community health and food literacy. She developed Sisters Together to empower African American women to make healthier choices, leading to increased understanding and consumption of a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. As part of the food preservation team, her online classes and bi‑monthly newsletter helped Nebraskans learn safe, effective home‑preservation practices. Collaborating with colleagues from the University of Idaho and Nebraska Extension, she co‑created the Multi‑cooker Curriculum to guide families in using this versatile appliance to prepare quick, nutritious meals. Her international outreach included traveling to Nigeria to teach women soybean‑processing skills, expanding access to protein‑rich foods for their children. Through the Reaching One, Reaching All DEI interest group, she also contributed to research and professional development focused on diversity, cultural and global competence, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Dr. Jones advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion through service at the university and in local communities. As a member of the Chancellor's Commission on the Status of People of Color, she helped coordinate the annual Multicultural Homecoming and played a key role in the 2022 renaming of the Human Sciences Building to honor Gwendolyn A. Newkirk—the first building in the NU system named for an African American. She also led #NCLUDE learning group sessions, guiding participants in building cultural competence through reflection, dialogue, and collaborative learning. As part of the Coming Together for Racial Understanding team, she supported community‑based dialogue‑to‑change efforts designed to foster meaningful conversations and positive action around race and equity.

Areas of Expertise

• Food Preservation
• Food Literacy, including food preparation and food safety
• Health and Wellness, especially among minority populations