Quiana Jones

What year did you start working at NIU?
I started working full time for NIU in July 2022.

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
I am from Chicago and I currently live in Sycamore, Illinois.

Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
I attended NIU and received my Bachelor of Science, my master’s in public health (MPH) with an emphasis in health promotion, and my doctorate in counseling, adult and higher education.

If you attended college, were you a first-generation student? If so, what advice would you offer to current first generation students?
Yes, I am first generation. My advice to first-generation students is to not be afraid to clear and pave the way for other students like you who may not have a "blueprint" to being a college student.

Describe your typical day—what do you do while at work?
I am responsible for communicating with faculty to gather data for report writing and work with stakeholders to promote recruitment and retention for the public health programs. I am also responsible for communicating with prospective graduate students. I help to ensure that the program is in compliance with the MPH accreditation agency, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Each day I meet with students in person or correspond via email to address any issues or concerns they may have and to help guide them through their journey as MPH students.

What do you like about working at NIU?
I thoroughly enjoy connecting with the students. They are the heart and soul of NIU, and I like having conversations with them on their perspectives of campus and the public health programs. This allows me the opportunity to pinpoint where we need to improve services.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Get involved in as much as you can without it impacting your academic career. Getting involved in organizations on campus helped me develop my leadership and communication skills. It also gives you the chance to network with individuals who you may not normally be able to connect with. However, as I stated before, get involved within reason, meaning do not let your involvement impact your grades. You do not want to be a social success and an academic mess. I also highly recommend doing a study abroad program if you are able. This will open your mind to different cultural perspectives and broaden your mind toward what it means to be a student and the opportunities that you have that others may not.

What is important for students to know about the office/department that you work in? What student services does your office provide?
We are a diverse group with so many interests within the public health field. Some of the staff (like myself) started off as students within the public health and MPH program, so it gives us a certain level of understanding and empathy toward our students.

In what ways do you see your colleagues help student success?
I have seen my colleagues go to tremendous lengths to help multiple students, from meeting with students one on one to carving time out to work with individual students to make sure they are doing well in their classes and getting the proper resources they need to be successful.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
One of my favorite memories at NIU is attending concerts with my friends at the Convocation Center. The artists that would come would be well-known at the time, so it was a real treat for us to be able to go see these artists in person whose music we would hear on the radio.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I am a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I became a Zeta at NIU (Eta Delta chapter), and I am still active now on the graduate level. Being part of an organization that focuses on sisterhood and serving the community has allowed me the opportunity to grow as a person in ways that I never imagined. I am also proud that I was able to earn my doctoral degree. It was a long journey, but I thoroughly enjoyed focusing on something that I am passionate about and being able to shed light on the subject.

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
Being able to help others in any capacity, whether it is on a professional level or helping those within the community. I always feel good when I am giving back to the community.

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
The first one that I think of is service and stewardship. One of the things that I was taught on campus is to "lift as you climb," so I think it is important to be able to mentor or help others who may be in difficult situations or need help navigating a path that you once took. I think that it makes a big difference.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
Growing up, I said that I wanted to be a doctor. I just knew that I always wanted to be part of the health field in some manner because I have always enjoyed helping or taking care of others. I feel like being in the field of public health and education has allowed me to focus on what I am passionate about on various levels.

Are you a member of or hold a position within a professional or community organization? If so, what organization? What is the purpose of that organization and how does being part of this organization benefit you in your role at NIU?
I am the advisor for the Student Health Organization (SHO) here at NIU. Being the advisor gives me the opportunity to connect with students outside of the public health department, but it also gives me the opportunity to show them how so many things are or can be connected to health and well-being. I am also a mentor for the CONNECT Plan. I help mentor students within the public health program and help connect minority students with funding that will assist them with their financial success at NIU. I am the co-chair for the collaboration for equity and belonging in behavioral healthcare committee (CEBiB) for the DeKalb County Mental Health Board. I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and I was recently nominated and inducted into the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars. I am also a trustee at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. All of these roles help me with professional development, time management, communication, patience and empathy toward others that transfer over into my current role at NIU.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I like to read a good book or listen to music. Depending on the type of music I am listening to, it can help me recharge and refocus. I like reading funny, fictitious books and watching off-the-wall movies or television series because it takes me away from what may be happening at the present time. There is so much going on in the world that I think it is good to be able to take a mental break. My focus has really been on ways that I can relax/rest, so the best thing that I currently enjoy is sleep.

Do you have any hobbies or interesting personal pursuits you're involved with in your spare time?
Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel. I am very passionate about seeing the world and experiencing other cultures and communities.