Background
Stephen Jones is the son of Bob Jones III, the grandson of Bob Jones, Junior., and the great-grandson of Bob Jones Senior, the university"s founder.
Stephen Jones is the son of Bob Jones III, the grandson of Bob Jones, Junior., and the great-grandson of Bob Jones Senior, the university"s founder.
Born on the university campus, he graduated from Bob Jones Academy. In 1992 he received a bachelor"s degree in public speaking from BJU and in 1996, a Master of Divinity. On the day he became University president in 2005, Jones also received a Doctor of Philosophy in Liberal Arts Studies from BJU.
Jones"s wife, Erin Rodman Jones, who is the Director of the BJU Museum & Gallery, is also a BJU graduate. They have three children. Before becoming president, Jones served BJU as a teaching assistant, a residence hall supervisor, and the vice president for administration.
"I thought he"d fly off the handle, but he didn"t," Jones said.
"Dad was very straightforward, but very forgiving and very supportive." The worst part was having others on campus learn about the demerits he received for the incident. "I was always the good boy, and it hurt when it came out."
Stephen Jones serves on the boards of Gospel Fellowship Association (GFA), Jesus Saves Mission - United States of America, Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International, Evangelism Foundation, Incorporated., The Wilds Christian Camp and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.
Early in his administration BJU was granted full accreditation by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The main message we have is to individuals.
"I don"t want to get specific," he said, "But there were things said back then that I wouldn"t say today." In October 2007 when Bob Jones III, as "a private citizen," endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for president, Stephen Jones made it clear that he wished "to stay out of politics" and that neither he nor the University had endorsed anyone.
In April 2008 he told a reporter, "I don"t think I have a political bone in my body."
In the fall of 2010, Jones was "nearly incapacitated" after suffering a severely damaged nerve due to an ear infection. He took extended medical leave after experiencing persistent nausea, dizziness, and migraines. During this period, he was "never fully disconnected," though sometimes he could only work a few hours a week.
After spending three weeks at the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Center in the summer of 2012, Jones returned to work, telling a reporter that his time of illness "grew the university family.
Everyone came together in a humbling way." Nevertheless, citing "persistence of my health issues," Jones resigned from the presidency of BJU on December 13, 2013 and was succeeded by Steve Pettit on May 10, 2014.
When, in 2005, he was asked by Newsweek if he wished to play a political role as had his predecessors at BJU, Jones replied, "lieutenant would not be my choice." Further, when asked if he felt ideologically closer to his father"s engagement with politics or to other evangelicals who have tried to avoid civic involvement, he answered, "The gospel is for individuals. We"re not here to save the culture." In a 2005 Washington Post interview, Jones dodged political questions and even admitted that he was embarrassed by "some of the more vitriolic comments" made by his predecessors.
Quotations: "I thought he"d fly off the handle, but he didn"t,". "I don"t want to get specific,".
