FSU Student Featured by the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of the ASALH

Mar 10, 2023 9:00 AM

Gianni Jones Recognized in President’s Circle During Women’s History Month

Gianni Jones, a senior Social Work major at Frostburg State University, has been featured in the President’s Circle of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) as part of Women’s History Month.

“In our Branch of ASALH, we celebrate and commemorate the contributions and achievements of African American women throughout the year, which is evidenced by the number of dignified, exemplary female scholars in the past four years who have presented with our branch,” said Ronald Saunders, President of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH located in Pittsburgh, PA.

Jones has been an active participant in the McKenzie Branch’s programs and was recently selected by the Branch to receive a student membership from ASALH National.

Jones relates to the late American memoirist, Maya Angelou’s quote, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.”

During her tenure at FSU, Jones has been involved with the Phi Alpha Society Social Work and the National Council of Negro Women. She was also a server for the federally funded Trio Student Support Successes Program assisting first-generation student transitions and matriculations.

Participation in these programs has led Jones to become an active member of Leadership and Success and selection to attend the University’s SLOOP Institute for Excellence in Leadership. She is also a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity.

“Gianni is a student leader that does not just walk in the path of previous BSA Leaders, she stands on their shoulders, but moves forward in the light of her strengths,” says Dr. Artie Travis, FSU Vice President for Student Affairs.

Jones hails from Baltimore, MD, and is currently the president of the Black Student Association and a lead supervisor for the FSU Lane University Center. She was also recently accepted into FSU’s graduate program where she will be an intern in the Office of Student Accessibility.