Our HerCampus celebrity of the week is the illustrious, Jerry Jones. President of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. A dedicated senior, who intends on joining us for a few more years to do grad school for health care administration after he graduates in may or at least “that’s what [his] heart is telling [him]”. He’s not trying to just get out of here like many other seniors, he’s trying to get his degree so he can stay here! He’s personable, friendly, and obviously well dressed.
Name: Jerry Jones
Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
Major: Chemistry
Year: 4th
Organizations: SGA, Alpha Phi Alpha
Her Campus: What organizations are you a part of?
Jerry Jones: Right now the biggest organization that I’m most proud of is Alpha Phi Alpha, of course. I’m also in student government association. I’m the college chair for the at-large college which pretty much represents any student. I was a part of the NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Councl), I was the president last semester. I did spend some time with the future pharmacist association, and a couple honor societies.
HC: How do you feel about being president of Alpha Phi Alpha?
JJ: I love it. When you join an organization like that, it’s most people’s ultimate goal. You just love it so much and it just becomes such a part of your identity. You’ll do whatever amount of work. President wasn’t even a big step for me; It was something I wanted to do. Coming in I didn’t know that I could be president of such an organization. But once you’re in the organization, once you are doing work, once you start growing as a leader it’s something that comes naturally.
HC: What’s it like being the president of such a big organization?
JJ: It’s a lot of pressure, I think that’s the big thing. I know as a general member you have people over you and if you have a problem, you have people who can solve it. But as president, if there’s a problem that is unsolved, you’re the last hope. It’s just you at the top. Other than that, you have to have a vision for where your organization is going. And you have to get people to buy into that vision, but I love the position it’s really rewarding.
HC: What do you like most about Georgia Southern?
JJ: I like how involved you can get a Georgia Southern, I’m not entirely sure how campus organizations go at other schools but Georgia Southern is like a small feel once you get involved with organizations. Once you get involved on campus, there is so much work to do. We have a large Statesboro community that needs student leaders, that needs people giving back. It’s a school where you can really make an impact and that’s what I love most about Georgia Southern.
HC: What was/is your favorite moment as an eagle?
JJ: My favorite moment was the semester after I crossed, sometime in March of 2014. We had Alpha week that week. I was hosting/planning my first event which was “Stroll like an Alpha”. That whole week I was pretty much nervous, we had an event every week and I was just nervous about whether or not people will come out/will the event go as planned.. Keep in mind, all these were the first events we were throwing as alphas. Later that week, I started to have a good feeling. I saw a lot of people promoting. People started lining up at 4pm that day, and the event started at 6. The event comes around, and it’s a lot of people like the most people I’ve seen at an event here and it went really well. By far my favorite moment.
HC: What would you tell freshman Jerry Jones?
JJ: Just have fun. Keep doing what you doing. I wouldn’t change anything because I believe everything happens for a reason. If I were to change anything I did freshman year, good or bad it could potentially alter where I’m at now. and I wouldn’t change that. So every experience good or bad is something I learned from. So keep doing you, probably smile a little bit more. Have a little bit more fun but other than that. He did alright. I would tell him to change is major though… chemistry is no joke.
HC: What’s one thing you feel everyone should know about you?
JJ: I have a twin [brother] at Albany State, just on the fun fact side. He’s an alpha too. You’ve probably seen him, he comes down here a good bit. But we look nothing alike. Other than that, just know that I’m really trying to build this campus like the atmosphere on campus; the culture. I want more people trying to give back to campus and give back to the Statesboro community. hopefuly you see that as opposed to be me telling you that. If I graduate and you know that I had that drive to impact this campus and/or impact the community, whether it’s me telling you or just you seeing it. That’s something I want people to know.