Maurice Jones Receives Patrick Henry Award from Hampden-Sydney College

Related Media

Dr. David Marion, Director of the Wilson Center;Mr. Maurice Jones; Dr. Christopher Howard, President of Hampden-Sydney College

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (04/13/2011)(readMedia)-- On April 1, the Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest at Hampden-Sydney College presented the Patrick Henry Award to Maurice A. Jones, H-SC Class of 1986, to recognize his outstanding career as a dedicated public servant. The award is named for the patriot Patrick Henry, who was an early trustee of the College.

Jones came to Hampden-Sydney College from Kenbridge, Virginia. In addition to being the valedictorian at Randolph Henry High School, Jones was a star athlete in football, baseball, and basketball. His academic prowess and proven leadership skills earned him a full honor scholarship to Hampden-Sydney College. Jones was elected Student Body President his junior year, graduated at the top of his class the next year, and went on to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. After earning a master's degree at Oxford, Jones received the Hardy Cross Dillard Scholarship at the University of Virginia's School of Law.

He began his career with the corporate law division of Hunton & Williams, but soon thereafter was given an opportunity to enter government service as a Treasury Department official with the Clinton Administration. He initially joined the Office of the General Counsel in the U.S. Department of the Treasury and later became heavily involved with the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The CDFI Fund was created to tie together available credit, investment capital, and financial services for "distressed urban and rural communities." Modeled on analogous work being done by the World Bank, the Fund promoted financial development in community-based organizations. He served in several capacities at the Fund over five years, starting as general counsel and culminating as director.

Jones moved on from his political position in 2001 to become one of five partners at Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), an organization serving the metro-D.C. area on the front lines of poverty. He was subsequently recruited by Governor Mark Warner to serve as his Deputy Chief of Staff, where he focused on performance management, urban policy, and community development. Governor Warner appointed him Commissioner of the Department of Social Services. Jones' work directly touched thousands of parents and children every day through his oversight of the welfare system's foster care program, child protection and adult protective services, as well as the department's regulation of child care and adult care facilities and child support programs.

Jones joined Landmark Publishing Group in March 2005 as a vice president and general manager. In the spring of 2008, he was appointed publisher of the Virginian-Pilot of the Landmark Publishing Group, which oversees the Pilot and other daily and community newspapers owned by Norfolk-based Landmark Communications. Jones currently serves as President of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.