First Black Male Dean to Lead One of the Nation’s Oldest HBCU Nursing Programs and Virginia’s Oldest Nursing School, Brings Representation to the Field During Black Nurses Week
Hampton, Va. — Hampton University has appointed Dr. Michael L. Jones ‘20, an accomplished nurse leader, researcher, educator, and Hampton alumnus, as dean of the Hampton University School of Nursing. Dr. Jones makes history as the first Black man to serve as dean of the School of Nursing in its distinguished history. This week also marks Black Nurses Week from July 26 to August 1.
Leading with Legacy and Learning
Founded in 1891, the Hampton University School of Nursing is one of the oldest nursing programs among Historically Black Colleges and Universities and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating nursing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more than 130 years, the school has prepared generations of nurses who have transformed healthcare, advanced health equity, and served communities across the nation.
A native of Leake County, Mississippi, Dr. Jones returns to Hampton University after a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in nursing leadership, academic administration, research, and national healthcare advocacy. Most recently, he served as the inaugural Associate Dean for Engagement and Professional Development and Clinical Associate Professor at the East Carolina University College of Nursing in Greenville, North Carolina, where he led strategic initiatives focused on faculty development, student success, and cultivating an inclusive academic culture.
“Dr. Jones represents the very best of Hampton University,” said President Darrell K. Williams ‘83. “He is a scholar, servant leader, and innovator whose career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes and expanding opportunities for underserved communities. As an alumnus who has already made history within our institution, he understands the significance of Hampton’s nursing legacy and is uniquely positioned to lead the School of Nursing into its next era of excellence.”
A nationally recognized leader in professional nursing governance, higher education policy, and scholarly publishing, Dr. Jones maintains an extensive national leadership footprint. He currently serves as Managing Editor for The Nurses Magazine, Co-Chair of the Nurses’ Health Study 3 (NHS3) Advisory Board, Vice President and Executive Director of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders, and Assistant Editor for the Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF). Additionally, he serves as a peer reviewer for prestigious scholarly publications, including Nursing Outlook and the Journal of Professional Nursing. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), he actively contributes to the Academy’s national governance as an elected member of the Fellow Selection Committee.
Dr. Jones also holds prominent national leadership roles within the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Access, Connection, and Engagement Leadership Network (ACELN) and Immediate Past Co-Chair of the national AACN Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) Symposium. Furthermore, Dr. Jones serves on the National Advisory Committee for the ANA/SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), where he serves on the selection committee and mentors current graduate fellows.
His extensive research governance and public policy service includes work with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), where he previously served as Chair of the Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials and continues as a Merit Reviewer. He was appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court as a Commissioner for the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, where he chaired the Medical-Legal Partnerships Subcommittee. Nationally, he has contributed as an author to the 2nd and 5th editions of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Administration: Scope and Standards of Practice. Across North Carolina, he served as Lead Faculty and Editor for the University of North Carolina System Office Open Educational Resources (OER) Population Health in Nursing initiative.
Dr. Jones previously served as the Richards Endowed Graduate Nursing Chair, assistant professor of nursing, and research development coordinator at Brenau University’s Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing in Norcross, Georgia. Throughout his career, he has focused on reducing health disparities, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing equitable healthcare delivery. His commitment to population health was further exemplified during his tenure as Chief Community Health Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he established statewide access-to-care strategies and emergency department diversion initiatives.
Dr. Jones’ connection to Hampton University is both historic and deeply personal. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from Hampton, becoming the first African American male to graduate from the University’s Ph.D. in Nursing program and the first African American male to earn a Ph.D. in Nursing from a Historically Black College or University.
“Hampton University shaped me not only as a scholar, but as a servant leader,” said Dr. Jones. “Returning to lead this extraordinary school is both an honor and a responsibility. The School of Nursing has long been a beacon for preparing compassionate, highly skilled nurse leaders. Together with our faculty, students, alumni, and healthcare partners, we will build on this storied legacy to elevate academic excellence, expand innovative research, and empower the next generation of nursing professionals.”
Dr. Jones completed his undergraduate nursing education at Meridian Community College and the University of Mississippi Medical Center after beginning his collegiate studies at East Central Community College.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time for nursing education as healthcare systems nationwide face growing workforce shortages and increasing demand for diverse nurse leaders prepared to address complex public health challenges. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Hampton University’s School of Nursing will continue its longstanding commitment to preparing nurses who lead with clinical excellence, compassion, innovation, and a commitment to health equity.
Outside of his professional work, Dr. Jones is the proud father of two children, Mikayla (20) and Dylan (18), who reside in Byram, Mississippi. He enjoys gardening, collecting African art, and is an active member of the Eta Eta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Jones will also be inducted into the inaugural cohort of Fellows of the American Association for Men in Nursing (FAAMN) this October.
About Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is one of the nation’s strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a prestigious Carnegie R2-designated research institution. For more than 150 years, Hampton has prepared world-ready leaders of character and consequence through a distinctive educational experience grounded in academic excellence, leadership, innovation, and service.
Home to students from 44 states and 32 countries and territories, the University is nationally recognized for groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer research, cybersecurity, marine and environmental science, and other disciplines that address society’s most pressing challenges. With an annual economic impact of $530 million across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Hampton continues to advance discovery, strengthen communities, and prepare graduates to lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected world. Learn more at www.hamptonu.edu.
