Dr. Rena T. Jones, Ph.D.
Microbiologist

Retired ('06) Professor of biology for thirty-four year at Spelman College. In her first year, she was appointed the first director of the Health Careers Program, a position she held for 14 years. In this role, she raised the profile of the College among health professions schools, which placed Spelman, as early as the early 1980s, in the top 5 of all colleges and universities in the United States in getting minorities admitted to medical schools. Dr. Jones became chair of the biology department in her second term at the College, and served in this capacity for 15 years. She and the faculty brought about major changes in the department which resulted, in a very short time, in a three-fold increase in the number of majors graduating from the College. In addition, she recruited faculty who developed a full and strong research program which involves the majors. She is most proud that she was honored for her teaching skills by the United Nego College Fund with the 1989-1990 "Tenneco Excellence in Teaching Award." Dr. Jones has several publications, including three laboratory manuals. Dr. Jones was a post-doctoral fellow on two separate occasions at Georgia State University in the laboratory of Dr. Ahmed Abdelal, where she was a member of his research team for a number of years.