Faces to Know: Yvette Jones

As chief operating officer and senior vice president for External Affairs at Tulane University, she is responsible for providing leadership and essential resources for policy direction. In addition to overseeing the activities of the Tulane Board, she is the senior officer responsible for institutional advancement, including all giving programs, alumni affairs and development services; federal, state, and local government relations; public relations and publications; technology transfer and business development; institutional research; and strategic and campus planning. Prior to assuming her current position, she was senior vice president for Planning and Administration. She has also served as vice president for Finance and Operations, chief of staff and executive director of the president’s office, in addition to various other positions since joining Tulane University in 1979. Perhaps most dauntingly, she is directly responsible for guiding the university to raise $700 million for endowment, capital and other programmatic purposes.