Aaron Jones, Ph.D. student in the Department of Education at the Gevirtz School, has been appointed the Director of UC Santa Barbara’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), effective January 3, 2018.
The Educational Opportunity Program is committed to providing a support and information base that validates each student’s experience and nurtures a sense of participation, belonging and empowerment. Through mentorship, academic programs, one-to-one counseling/advising, campus student support service referrals and social/cultural programming, EOP strives to maximize a student’s involvement and success in the campus academic community. In addition to assisting students through to graduation, EOP helps motivate and inform students to use services to enhance their preparation for the job market and/or graduate/professional school admission. EOP focuses on serving those who are income eligible and first-generation undergraduates.
Jones is currently a Ph.D. student at UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Organizations. As a graduate student, he continued his legacy of service, advocacy and leadership at UCSB by serving as the President of the Graduate Student Association. He has also served as a co-host and programmer for “On The Real” a public affairs/social commentary weekly radio show for 91.9 FM, KCSB.
Jones has a long affiliation with UC Santa Barbara. He is currently serving as the Associated Students’ (AS) Assistant Director for Community Affairs, Civic Engagement & Advocacy. He was previously the AS Student Government/Recruitment & Retention Center Advisor/Main Office Manager. During his undergraduate years, he served as the AS President, and Vice President for Statewide Affairs and was the Representative–at-Large for various organizations.
Jones has worked for the Transfer Achievement Program at Santa Barbara City College and has also served on the Board of Directors for Coalition for a Living Wage/P.U.E.B.L.O., Fund for Santa Barbara, UCSB Alumni Association and UCSB Foundation.