Chad Jones

Professor Jones is currently serving as the Associate Dean of the Faculty for Academic Affairs.

Professor Jones is interested in a wide range of topics in plant ecology. He is especially interested in how plants colonize new areas, with a recent focus on plant invasions in forests. He has studied plant colonization following a broad array of disturbances ranging from volcanic eruptions and the retreat of glaciers to gopher mounds in mountain meadows. His current work focuses on understanding why some forests are more invaded than others and how the age and land-use history of forests impact invasion patterns. He uses a variety of tools, including field studies, statistical models and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to understand patterns of spread of invasive species.

A second major professional interest relates to holistic sustainability - understanding how environmental issues and solutions are interwoven with social justice and economics. From 2014-2020, Professor Jones served as the inaugural Suzi Oppenheimer ’56 Faculty Director of the Office of Sustainability. As the Faculty Director, Professor Jones co-directed the Office, specifically leading all of the College’s efforts to integrate sustainability throughout the curriculum. He continues to be engaged in campus sustainability efforts.

Professor Jones has taught courses in environmental studies, plant systematics, plant ecology, sustainability, and ecological restoration. He also has taught a hands-on course in collaboration with alumnus Rocky Ackroyd ’83, in which students design and then install solar arrays on campus.

He is a fellow with the College's Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment.

Visit the Botany department website and the Environmental Studies Program website.

Majoring in Botany.

Majoring in Environmental Studies.