A new art installation in Baker University Center is honoring three-time alumna Dr. Jenny Hall-Jones, AB ’95, MED ’97, PHD ’11, for her nearly 26 years of service to Ohio University and her role in building a system to support student success.
Commissioned by OHIO’s Division of Student Affairs, “House of Love,” a painting created by a group of artists at Athens’ Passion Works Studio, hangs in the third-floor administrative hallway of Baker University Center – outside the Dean of Students Office that Hall-Jones occupied for years.
“Jenny had a significant impact on Ohio University, and we, the Division of Student Affairs, felt really strongly about recognizing her in a momentous way because she had such a significant impact,” said Megan Vogel, BA ’98, MA ’13, chief of staff to the vice president for student affairs.
Hall-Jones spent the first 11-plus years of her career with OHIO’s Housing and Residence Life before joining the Vice President for Student Affairs Office for two years as special assistant to the vice president. In 2008, she moved to the Dean of Students Office where she was an assistant dean for four years. For the past nine years, she served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students with two stints as interim vice president for student affairs. In January, she joined Michigan’s Grand Valley State University as its first-ever vice president for student affairs.
In planning how best to honor Hall-Jones and her OHIO legacy, the Division of Student Affairs turned to Passion Works Studio, a collaborative arts center founded in 1998 by Patty Mitchell, BFA ’87, MFA ’91. The center brings artists of all abilities together to create, collaborate and build community – and is a long-time passion of Hall-Jones.
“Jenny Hall-Jones has been such a huge supporter of the studio,” said Mitchell. “Her energy and positivity always made us feel like we were partners and we had ideas that were beneficial to our community and the University. She opened doors for us. … In making this painting, we did not hold back. We wanted to put as much love as we possibly could into this work because Jenny was known by our artists and a part of our history. It was definitely a gift from our collective heart.”
According to Mitchell, about a half-dozen Passion Works artists contributed to “House of Love,” under the direction of artist-in-residence Wendy Minor Viny and inspired by the seeds Hall-Jones planted in the community.
“As we were talking about Jenny, we thought about how much love she has for students, for the University and for Athens itself and the different projects and programs that she was involved in starting,” Mitchell explained. “She planted seeds of love that have grown into these larger projects that support so many. She’s planted this garden, and there’s so much fruit now. She’s generated this house of love.”
Created in Passion Works’ signature style, “House of Love” showcases themes that include shelter and growth – with Mitchell noting the depiction of birds “because students, with their sound experience at the University, have the opportunity to take flight and go out and do great things.”
Behind the artwork is a nod to Hall-Jones’ role in helping to create and support OHIO’s Basic Needs initiative, culminating in the establishment of an assistant dean of students, Kathy Fahl, who was hired under Hall-Jones and manages the initiative’s programs, including:
According to Hall-Jones, OHIO’s Basic Needs initiative arose from a University-wide understanding – based in research and a student survey – that more needed to be done to ensure that students had the essentials to succeed on campus.
“The thing about basic needs is that it’s not this big thing that everybody can see,” Hall-Jones said. “Creating these Basic Needs programs allowed us to shine a light on the fact that we have students that have unfulfilled needs and provide ways for the community to help us and for Bobcats to help Bobcats. … If students’ basic needs aren’t met – if they are worried about where they’re going to get their next meal, how they’re going to pay their bills or housing – they can’t do well in school."
Vogel noted that the “House of Love” painting reflects how Hall-Jones helped create “a home for students that’s not just a roof over your head but also food, financial security and all those things that go along with feeling at home and supported.”
For Hall-Jones, who visited Athens over Spring Break and saw the art installation, “House of Love” is “an amazing honor.”
“I cried when they told me,” she said, noting that the gesture was even more meaningful because it was created by Passion Works artists.
As an Ohio University student, Hall-Jones volunteered at Passion Works. As an OHIO employee, she often collaborated with the center, including in 2018, when the Division of Student Affairs partnered with Passion Works on the annual Leadership Awards Gala. Themed “Leading with Passion,” Hall-Jones still proudly displays the sash Passion Works artists created for her for the event, and her home and office are adorned with Passion Works creations.
“I just love everything about Passion Works,” Hall-Jones said. “It is an amazing nonprofit. To me, it’s a little bit of Ohio University and a little bit of Athens.”
Having a piece of Passion Works art commissioned in her honor brings tears to Hall-Jones’ eyes.
“I have so many things that I took with me from Ohio University and Athens,” she said. “But to have something that’s left there is really special.”
In recognition of Hall-Jones’ service and in an effort to advance her legacy of supporting the success of OHIO students, donations in her honor may be made to the Student Emergency Fund and the Division of Student Affairs Food Pantry Support Fund.
