Marcus Jones

Dr. Marcus Jones was named the 20th President of Northwestern State University on November 8, 2021 by unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Jones has served the institution in many ways throughout his 23-year career most recently serving as interim president since July of 2021. 

Jones has an extensive academic, business, and legal background, having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Louisiana System for the past year, where he oversaw the areas of business finance, internal/external audit function, EEO, and IT for the System and handled matters of system level importance on behalf of the UL System president. He also oversaw management of budgets, administration, policies and procedures, and international relations and acted as the legal liaison for the System.

Jones served as NSU’s executive vice president for university and business affairs from 2017-2020 where he was a key administrator in the planning, operation, and management of the University. He oversaw University Police, the Environmental Health and Safety office, Grounds Department, and the Physical Plant and was responsible for construction, maintenance, custodial, and general upkeep of all University facilities and grounds. He also reviewed and executed University leases and cooperative agreements and oversaw the environmental health and safety officer. He was NSU’s vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2017.

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Northwestern State, a master’s in international business and trade from Grambling State University, and a law degree from Southern University Law Center where he was managing editor of the Southern Law Review. He also studied international business and finance at the University of Plymouth in Plymouth, England.

Jones has been a member of Northwestern’s faculty since 1994 as an instructor of business, assistant professor of business law and international business, associate professor of business law and international business and has held the Ben D. Johnson Endowed Professorship since 1999. Proficient in Spanish, he led the university’s international recruiting efforts, which substantially increased the number of students at NSU from outside the U.S.

Jones has also been treasurer and a consultant to the Ben D. Johnson Educational Foundation and finance/accounts manager and consultant for the Ben D. Johnson Construction and Finance Co. In his role with the construction and finance company, Jones supervised subcontractors at construction sites, managed the company’s operating budget, provided financial oversight and worked in economic development. He has also served as treasurer and consultant of the Northwest Louisiana Athletic League and has served in several capacities including co-editor of “Callaloo,” a literary magazine based at Texas A&M.

He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the American Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association.