Our Team

    Emma Jones

    Executive Vice President / Owner

    Email Emma (336) 603-6017
    Photo of Emma Jones

    Emma Jones (she/her) is a storyteller at heart. She’s passionate about changing the prevailing narratives about higher education by inspiring innovation and action within our client institutions and associations. With more than 20 years of experience working in and for colleges and universities, Emma guides national partnerships to build higher education leadership benches for the future, with an emphasis on empowering women and gender-diverse leaders.

    A Champion for Leaders & their development

    As Credo’s Executive Vice President, Emma wears many hats. She serves as one of our program leads and facilitators for Credo's leadership development partnerships across the country, and leads the Credo + AAC&U Leadership Institutes for Women & Gender-Diverse Leaders, which has supported and developed presidents and senior-level leaders nationally for a decade. Emma speaks regularly to groups of leaders on the higher education landscape; how leaders sustain their energy and commitment in challenging roles; and as a REACH-certified facilitator, how to develop collaborative advantage through engaging effectively with diverse leadership styles. As the Executive Editor for Credo Press, Emma worked closely with Credo co-founder Joanne Soliday on publications including Surviving to Thriving (2014) and Pivot: A Vision for the New University (2019). Internally, she also oversees Credo’s brand, marketing, and sales strategy, and plays a key role in developing culture and guiding our diversity and inclusion efforts. She was recognized in 2022 by the Women's Resource Center of Alamance County as a Leading the Way Honoree for her work with developing leaders nationally. 

    “I love working with higher education leaders. They are brilliant, passionate, thoughtful people who are incredibly committed to the success of their students, teams, and institutions.”

    Honoring Core Values of Family and Place

    Emma’s passion for developing women leaders is matched only by her advocacy for maternal health and choice, and she served as a Certified Birth Doula with DONA International for six years.

    Emma and her family live outside the funky riverside mill town of Saxapahaw, North Carolina, on land they share with three generations —along with cats and chickens.

    More About Emma

    • Client and Project Portfolio
      • Co-Facilitator | American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) President’s Trust Town Hall Meeting; “Presidential Leadership in Crisis: Sustaining Self and the Future of the Profession” with Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, President, AAC&U; and Dr. Joretta Nelson, Vice Chairman/Owner, Credo
      • Facilitator | AICUM / AICURI (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) Aspiring Leaders Program 
      • Facilitator | APCU (Presbyterian) Executive Leadership Program 
      • Roundtable Leader | Council for Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidents Institute Roundtable; “Presidential Longevity and Institutional Culture” with Dr. Tiffany Franks, President, Averett University
      • Presenter: Credo Webinar | “Managing Risk & Change in Strategic Planning”
      • Facilitator | GICA (Georgia) Higher Education Leadership Development Program 
      • Featured Speaker | Independent Colleges of Indiana Board Meeting – “Connecting Student Thriving & Faculty Thriving” with Dr. Allison Ash, Senior Consultant for Student Success, Credo 
      • Facilitator | ICI (Indiana) Leadership Academy 
      • Facilitator | KICA (Kansas) Aspiring Campus Leadership Academy 
      • Facilitator | North American Association of Methodist Schools and Colleges (NAAMSCU) Annual Meeting
      • Consultant | OFIC (Ohio) Strategic Planning 
      • Facilitator | South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Annual Meeting
      • Featured Speaker | Tennessee College Public Relations Association (TCPRA) Annual Conference – “Leadership & Change in Higher Education” 
      • Facilitator | TICUA (Tennessee) Aspiring Leaders Academy 
      • Facilitator | TICUA (Tennessee) Executive Leaders Institute 
      • Facilitator | WAICU (Wisconsin) Aspiring Leaders Program 
    • Previous Experience
      • Chief Brand Officer, Credo (2013 - 2021)
      • Manager, External Communication & Program Development, The Foundation for International Education, London, UK (2006 - 2013)
      • Study Abroad Advisor and Publicity Coordinator, Elon University (2002 - 2006)
    • Education & Certifications

      •   Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Maryville University (anticipated 2027)

      •   M.A., Liberal Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

      •   Bachelors in Literature and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Asheville

      •   Certified REACH Ecosystem Practitioner

    • Strengths & More

      StrengthsFinder Profile

      •    Strategic
      •    Communication
      •    Focus
      •    Learner
      •    Significance

       REACH Style | Coach, pulled toward Driver

      Enneagram Profile | Type 3: The Achiever 

    Executive Leadership Team

    Emma is part of the Executive Leadership Team. She is proud to work with this team of talented individuals.

    Photo of Bill Fahrner

    Bill Fahrner

    President / Owner

    Photo of Joretta Nelson

    Joretta Nelson, Ph.D.

    Vice Chairman & Founder of MTN / Owner
    Photo of Tom Gavic

    Tom Gavic

    Chairman / Owner

    External Relations

    Emma is also part of External Relations, partnering with this talented team on brand oversight, events, speaking engagements, and more.

    Photo of Alex Kappus

    Alex Kappus, Ph.D.

    Account Executive for Student Success
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