Getting to know you — CIU students query new president

Columbia International University’s student body was introduced to their school’s new president, Dr. Bill Jones, in a somewhat unusual way. Instead of a typical President’s Chapel message, Jones answered questions submitted by students and read by CIU Student Body President Miles Raven.

Jones is no stranger to many of the students. He previously served as CIU president from 2007 to 2017, and then served as chancellor before returning to the President’s Office as CIU’s eighth president on Feb. 1.

But even before the students’ questions were posed, there were several “this or that” "icebreaker" questions such as Jones’ preferences between dogs or cats and hamburgers or pizza. When asked “wrestling or soccer,” he noted that although he once participated in wrestling, “there is nobody better than the CIU soccer team,” which brought loud cheers and applause from the student body.  

Among the serious questions posed by the students through a QR code at a previous chapel was, “What actions do you take to set your mind on things above?”

Jones referred to “two pillars,” one of which is “time alone with God” including keeping a prayer journal. He noted that he has 49 journals on his office shelf reflecting every year that he has been a follower of Christ.

The other pillar is Scripture memorization.

“I spend a lot of time thinking through how (the Scripture) applies to my life, or how it applies to somebody else’s life that I serve or minister to,” Jones explained.

Jones was also asked what he will do differently in his second presidency at CIU. His answer was to do a better job of getting “out of the way, and let God do His thing that He does so well … and let the Holy Spirit flow.” He also pointed to “an incredible team of leaders on the faculty and staff.”

“My role is to encourage them, support them, and empower them. Translation: ‘Get out of the way,’” Jones explained. “And let them minister like they do so well.”  

After the chapel, sophomore Psychology major Caleb Schell, who also serves as an RA, referred to Jones as “very spiritually grounded in his beliefs,” adding that “he showed himself to be a relatable person who is a great fit for the role of president." 

Hear the entire Q&A Chapel on CIU's podcasts at Spotify. 

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