ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Zan Jones ’96, Winthrop University’s associate vice president for human resources, employee diversity and wellness, and chief diversity officer, walked the red carpet this month at the 8th Annual Diamond Awards to receive an award for her standout achievements in leadership, philanthropy, humanitarian and community engagement.
The Academy of the Diamond Awards and Not Alone Foundation presented the 2024 Awards to celebrate, honor and acknowledge the contributions of individuals from various professional disciplines, while also saluting equality, inclusion, diversity and human rights. Jones was recognized for her leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion in the education field. Other fields included arts, business, entertainment, government, corporate America and community.
The Jan. 27 event was held at the historic Morehouse College Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel.
About Zan Jones
Jones joined Winthrop in 2004. As chief diversity officer, she has worked with academic leaders on a recruitment plan for all faculty and staff searches to attract more diverse candidates. In addition she has provided implicit bias training for all executive-level search committees and with diversity advocates on faculty searches. She chairs the university’s Diversity Council to advise senior leadership on diversity issues and to recommend institutional procedures and initiatives.
Under her leadership, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program was established to educate faculty and staff on topics such as religious identities and communities, challenging classism and ageism, and facilitating challenging conversations. Jones also has worked on salary compensation studies for university employees.
About Not Alone Foundation
The Not Alone Foundation (NAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of kidney disease and enhancing the quality of life of sufferers by providing educational and medical resources and financial assistance for chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease patients and their families. Using the platforms of entertainment, wellness, arts and design as mediums to help forward its mission, NAF educates, inspires and uplifts, working determinedly to confront and conquer this global epidemic. In addition to the integration of four core programs, NAF supports interconnected health initiatives such as diabetes and high blood pressure awareness, as well as cancer prevention and integrative treatment.
For more information, please contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail longshawj@winthrop.edu.
