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Christopher Jones honored with national award for international education from Phi Beta Delta

March 21, 2013
Christopher M. Jones

Christopher M. Jones

Christopher Jones, associate vice provost for University Honors, has been chosen for the 2013 Yvonne Captain Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education by the board of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars.

Jones is the third NIU professor to win the national award in recent years, with history professor J.D. Bowers having won in 2012 and anthropology professor  Susan Russell taking home the honor in 2009.

As a professor of political science, Jones specializes in international relations and American foreign policy. While serving as political science chair, he led the creation of a revised and strengthened Global Studies minor; he also proposed and secured a permanent position for political science in NIU’s highly regarded study abroad program at Oxford University.

Jones also is the former president of NIU’s Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta. He originated and supported the spring speaker for the chapter, which under his leadership has become an annual event.

In his role as associate vice provost for University Honors, Jones collaborated with other campus colleagues to establish the Global Leadership and Philanthropy Camp for high-achieving high school students, first delivered in summer 2012. He also established the Themed Learning Community on competing global perspectives and taught twice in that TLC while still serving a full-time administrative appointment.

Phi Beta Delta medallionAdditionally, two study abroad programs this summer result from collaborative efforts in which he was significantly involved: Discovering Montréal, Canada; and Peace, Justice and the International Courts in the Netherlands. Jones also was elected the president of the Foreign Policy Analysis Section of the International Studies Association and served for two terms.

“In all three areas of teaching, research and engagement, Chris Jones has demonstrated exceptional involvement in global activities and perspectives. His energy and passion for excellence in international education stand out,” said Deborah Pierce, NIU associate provost for International Programs.

“Having three NIU colleagues recognized with this national award in recent years presents strong testimony about the distinctive achievements of globally focused NIU faculty.”