A new art installation in Baker University Center is honoring three-time alumna Dr. Jenny Hall-Jones, AB 鈥95, MED 鈥97, PHD 鈥11, for her nearly 26 years of service to 51社区 and her role in building a system to support student success.
Commissioned by OHIO鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs, 鈥淗ouse of Love,鈥 a painting created by a group of artists at Athens鈥 Passion Works Studio, hangs in the third-floor administrative hallway of Baker University Center 鈥 outside the Dean of Students Office that Hall-Jones occupied for years.
鈥淛enny had a significant impact on 51社区, and we, the Division of Student Affairs, felt really strongly about recognizing her in a momentous way because she had such a significant impact,鈥 said Megan Vogel, BA 鈥98, MA 鈥13, chief of staff to the vice president for student affairs.
Hall-Jones spent the first 11-plus years of her career with OHIO鈥檚 Housing and Residence Life before joining the Vice President for Student Affairs Office for two years as special assistant to the vice president. In 2008, she moved to the Dean of Students Office where she was an assistant dean for four years. For the past nine years, she served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students with two stints as interim vice president for student affairs. In January, she joined Michigan鈥檚 Grand Valley State University as its first-ever vice president for student affairs.
In planning how best to honor Hall-Jones and her OHIO legacy, the Division of Student Affairs turned to Passion Works Studio, a collaborative arts center founded in 1998 by Patty Mitchell, BFA 鈥87, MFA 鈥91. The center brings artists of all abilities together to create, collaborate and build community 鈥 and is a long-time passion of Hall-Jones.
鈥淛enny Hall-Jones has been such a huge supporter of the studio,鈥 said Mitchell. 鈥淗er energy and positivity always made us feel like we were partners and we had ideas that were beneficial to our community and the University. She opened doors for us. 鈥 In making this painting, we did not hold back. We wanted to put as much love as we possibly could into this work because Jenny was known by our artists and a part of our history. It was definitely a gift from our collective heart.鈥
According to Mitchell, about a half-dozen Passion Works artists contributed to 鈥淗ouse of Love,鈥 under the direction of artist-in-residence Wendy Minor Viny and inspired by the seeds Hall-Jones planted in the community.
鈥淎s we were talking about Jenny, we thought about how much love she has for students, for the University and for Athens itself and the different projects and programs that she was involved in starting,鈥 Mitchell explained. 鈥淪he planted seeds of love that have grown into these larger projects that support so many. She鈥檚 planted this garden, and there鈥檚 so much fruit now. She鈥檚 generated this house of love.鈥
Created in Passion Works鈥 signature style, 鈥淗ouse of Love鈥 showcases themes that include shelter and growth 鈥 with Mitchell noting the depiction of birds 鈥渂ecause students, with their sound experience at the University, have the opportunity to take flight and go out and do great things.鈥
Behind the artwork is a nod to Hall-Jones鈥 role in helping to create and support OHIO鈥檚 Basic Needs initiative, culminating in the establishment of an assistant dean of students, Kathy Fahl, who was hired under Hall-Jones and manages the initiative鈥檚 programs, including:
According to Hall-Jones, OHIO鈥檚 Basic Needs initiative arose from a University-wide understanding 鈥 based in research and a student survey 鈥 that more needed to be done to ensure that students had the essentials to succeed on campus.
鈥淭he thing about basic needs is that it鈥檚 not this big thing that everybody can see,鈥 Hall-Jones said. 鈥淐reating these Basic Needs programs allowed us to shine a light on the fact that we have students that have unfulfilled needs and provide ways for the community to help us and for Bobcats to help Bobcats. 鈥 If students鈥 basic needs aren鈥檛 met 鈥 if they are worried about where they鈥檙e going to get their next meal, how they鈥檙e going to pay their bills or housing 鈥 they can鈥檛 do well in school."
Vogel noted that the 鈥淗ouse of Love鈥 painting reflects how Hall-Jones helped create 鈥渁 home for students that鈥檚 not just a roof over your head but also food, financial security and all those things that go along with feeling at home and supported.鈥
For Hall-Jones, who visited Athens over Spring Break and saw the art installation, 鈥淗ouse of Love鈥 is 鈥渁n amazing honor.鈥
鈥淚 cried when they told me,鈥 she said, noting that the gesture was even more meaningful because it was created by Passion Works artists.
As an 51社区 student, Hall-Jones volunteered at Passion Works. As an OHIO employee, she often collaborated with the center, including in 2018, when the Division of Student Affairs partnered with Passion Works on the annual Leadership Awards Gala. Themed 鈥淟eading with Passion,鈥 Hall-Jones still proudly displays the sash Passion Works artists created for her for the event, and her home and office are adorned with Passion Works creations.
鈥淚 just love everything about Passion Works,鈥 Hall-Jones said. 鈥淚t is an amazing nonprofit. To me, it鈥檚 a little bit of 51社区 and a little bit of Athens.鈥
Having a piece of Passion Works art commissioned in her honor brings tears to Hall-Jones鈥 eyes.
鈥淚 have so many things that I took with me from 51社区 and Athens,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut to have something that鈥檚 left there is really special.鈥
In recognition of Hall-Jones鈥 service and in an effort to advance her legacy of supporting the success of OHIO students, donations in her honor may be made to the and the .
