by Rachel Coleman SCCC
LIBERAL, Kan. — Pending board approval at the June 17 trustees meeting, Seward County Community College will add a member to its executive team. Dr. Amber Jones was named Vice President of Career Technical Education (CTE) following a national search and interview process. Jones has served as SCCC Dean of Industrial Technology and, for the past year, SCCC Dean of CTE, combining oversight of the industrial technology and allied health divisions.
“Dr. Jones has served in multiple capacities since joining the SCCC in 2021,” said SCCC President Brad Bennett. “She is a team player who goes above and beyond the job description to help the institution strive for excellence.” Bennett noted Jones’ willingness to fill in for a vacant math instructor position and her service as a core member of the college’s Strategic Plan development process.
During Jones’ time as head of Industrial Technology, SCCC sought out additional industry partnerships and funding for expansion, including multiple private, state, and federal grants. With the acquisition of new property for a West Campus facility, the SCCC diesel technology and CDL program are poised to more than double in size.
“I’m excited to see SCCC continue in the direction we’re heading, focusing on helping our students obtain the skills that will help them improve their earning potential and their lives,” she said. “It’s amazing to be part of those stories.”
Jones began her college education with an associate of science degree from Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, followed by a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics and a minor in education from the University of Tulsa. She continued with a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and statistics from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Jones completed her Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., in 2021.
Since her days teaching algebra 1 and eighth grade math at Dumas (Texas) Junior High to stints at Lone Star College, Caney Creek High School in Conroe, Texas, and finally, adjunct instructor and Provost of Frank Phillips College -Allen Campus, Jones has not lost sight of what drives her. She loves the process of learning, of helping others learn, and seeing where learning leads. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the economic impact of career and technical education, connecting higher ed with quality of life and individual success.
Even so, she added, “the math classroom will always be my happy place.” It’s possible that Jones might very well turn up as the occasional math class substitute. “As an administrator, I try to motivate my team to improve performance for the benefit of our students, and I strive to be a servant leader by example.”
In their April board meeting, SCCC trustees approved a restructure of academic affairs, adding a Vice President of Technical Education and cutting two academic dean roles. The restructure was prompted in part by faculty retirements, which Bennett said always prompt the college to take a fresh look at how the current organizational structure could be improved. The two VP academic models are standard in schools with strong technical and workforce programs.
