Christopher Leon Jones, Jr.

The mission of OEO includes training and professional development, compliance and monitoring for the Americans with Disabilities Act, the WSU Supplier Diversity Program, Sexual Harassment, Anti-Discrimination and the Title IX Gender Equity Program. The OEO reports to, and works closely with, the Office of General Counsel.

Jones is also responsible for the implementation of the university's Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Program, which ensures that no person is discriminated against in employment, educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or veteran status.

Prior to his appointment at Wayne State, Jones was the Deputy Executive Director of the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission (HCRC). The HCRC is responsible for the enforcement of the civil rights laws of the State of Hawai`i prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accommodations, real property transactions, and access to services receiving State financial assistance.

As an attorney, Jones held positions in both the public and private sectors practicing law in Washington, D.C. with the Law Offices of Robert L. Bell, where he was responsible for the firm's appellate practice, and served as trial counsel in employment discrimination and civil rights cases. Prior to joining the HCRC, he was an Attorney-Advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jones is a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, serving as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Department. In his final assignment at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D. C., he served as Chief of Military Justice, supervising a criminal division for a unit that was responsible for over 30,000 personnel around the world. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in the rank of Captain, and his military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, with one oak leaf cluster, and the National Defense Service Medal.

A native of Michigan, Jones is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Howard University School of Law. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Jones is a member of the bars of Pennsylvania, Tennessee and the District of Columbia.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.