Today we’d like to introduce you to Asha’ Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Asha’. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Like millions of girls during childhood, I dreamed of becoming an actress or a professional athlete. Driven by my heart, I found it easy to compete in soccer and act in high school plays. However, my life experiences changed my desires to pursue a career in education. I was born and reared in Ogden, Utah. I was raised by my grandparents due to the fact that my mother never seemed to make the right decisions and was incarcerated most of my life. My childhood was not easy, by any means. Although my grandparents raised me, they did not set the best example. My grandparents were drug dealers. During my middle school years, we came home and packaged drugs to distribute in the community. I can remember being in 8th grade and saying to myself, “The only way I will get out of this situation is if I get an education and go on to college.”
From a young age, I took an interest in working within my community. I volunteered on various committees within my middle school, high school, and college in order to learn from peers and mentors that there are other ways to make it in this world. Under challenging circumstances, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations in May 2000, from Weber State University. In 2006, I received my Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. I am the first person in my family to obtain a high school, college, and graduate degree.
While in college, I participated in extracurricular activities, worked two full-time jobs, and completed an intensive public relations internship while raising my teenage brother and two teenage cousins. My grandparents passed away, and my mother and aunt were sentenced to five years for drug charges; thus the reason the children came to live with me. Throughout my life, I have seen the damaging impact of people who chose instant satisfaction over delayed gratification. I determined that learning would be the key to changing my life and the lives of those around me. It was then that I dedicated myself to learning. I was not satisfied with merely getting a sufficient grade, but instead, I wanted to absorb the information to acquire the skills necessary for my future success.
As I continue to pursue higher education, I am most intrigued by concepts related to diversity, specifically those related to access to education for students from underrepresented populations. Diversity encompasses so many layers within society and has undergone numerous adaptations and transformations in regards to the circumstances of time, place, needs, and wants (not to mention having a changing definition). It is quite challenging to learn and teach “diversity” as a whole; therefore, I have decided to examine diversity in higher education. I am particularly interested in looking at how diversity shapes college students’ academic performances, diversity’s effects on students’ lifestyle choices, and the role diversity plays in student stress related to academic pursuits. I would like to embark on an exploration of how diversity affects the success of underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students.
My positions in higher education, along with other professional experiences, have provided me with unique opportunities to work and associate with an array of diverse populations. I currently serve as the Special Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs at San Diego State University. In this role, I am responsible for coordinating division-wide activities and objectives that assist with the provision of services for first- generation, low income, and underrepresented students and the overall student body population. My daily interactions with these students provide an opportunity to experience and learn first-hand about the harsh and beautiful realities of diversity within society. I see their needs and work with them through their struggles to help them succeed both academically, personally, and professionally. In my role, much of what I do is to help students overcome debilitating fears related to language barriers, academic deficiencies, personal problems, and being “different,” Admittedly, without proper nurturing and advisement, the population I work with could easily drop out of college and repeat a detrimental cycle of apathy.
I aspire to grow not only academically and professionally in the philosophical knowledge of diversity, but also evolve in wisdom, compassion, and understanding. I believe diversity cannot be understood and taught if the natural sense of service to and respect for humanity is absent. I believe I have lived a life as such, and want to support others on their journey to understand this notion.
Ultimately, I want to serve as a college administrator and help underrepresented students graduate and become positive contributors to society. I am entering into a Ph.D. program at SDSU this fall and as a student, I will be motivated, disciplined, and fully engaged in the process of excelling in all facets of the doctoral program. I am familiar with challenging academic studies, and I embrace the rigorous training and demands. My education, work, and life experience have helped me to prepare for this process. I am confident in my ability to continue to cultivate my excellent analytical and communication skills and establish an affinity for what is expected in the academy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth road? What’s that? One of the biggest struggles in this walk of life that I have faced is rejection. Being raised by my grandparents because of my mother’s poor decisions and even after that, her just not wanting me. That was definitely tough; however, I have learned that her rejection was just a way of showing me that it was God’s blessing over my life. Second, having to raise kids that weren’t mine and being a kid myself while trying to go college. Wow, that was tough, but in reality, it built me into who I am today, and I am thankful for that experience. Lastly, I would say realizing that I am beautiful, and I am worth was a journey that I am just now starting to understand. So, words of advice that I would give enjoy the struggles in the journey of becoming you. It’s beautiful when you go from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Knowing you are a diamond being built in the struggle. Beautiful things come from the pressure. Diamonds are built to last honey, and they are amazing, and so are you.
Please tell us about your work.
I currently serve as the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at San Diego State University. In this role, I have the ability to creating impacting partnerships with internal and external communities at SDSU that build pipelines for underrepresented students. In this role, I am responsible for coordinating division-wide activities and objectives that assist with the provision overall student body population. My daily interactions with these students provide an opportunity to experience and learn first-hand about the harsh and beautiful realities of diversity within society. I see their needs and work with them through their struggles to help them succeed both academically, personally, and professionally. In my role, much of what I do is to help students overcome debilitating fears related to language barriers, academic deficiencies, personal problems, and being “different,” Admittedly, without proper nurturing and advisement, the population I work with could easily drop out of college and repeat a detrimental cycle of apathy.
I am the brand I have lived the life of being an underrepresented student and making it through the pipeline. What sets me apart is I am the rose that grew from a concrete jungle.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Finding a mentor is one of the most amazing things that you will do in this life, but you have to find one that will do these three things:
1. Push you out of your feelings/comfort zone.
2. Love on you when you need it.
3. Be your biggest cheerleader.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 801-920-3570
- Email: asha.jones@sdsu.edu
- Instagram: ashasjones
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashaj
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ashaj1922
Image Credit:
Karen Williams, Renita Sims, Leilah Kirkendoll, SDSU students, Anwar Cruther
In the SDSU photo, I am with VP Antionette Marbray, President Adela de la Torre, Police Chief Josh Mays, and Dr. Radmila Prislin,
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
