MJ Jones Portfolio

Professional Profile

Mary Jean Jones

MST, SPHR, NRAEMT (She/Her/Ella)

Discretely Queer
(LGBTQ+ community member with private personal life)

See also Spruce It Up! Independent Contracting

"Mary Jean's motivation, desire for progress, and kind approach make her a delightful person to know and to work with." - Thomas Siller, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering, Letter, 2022

"MJ is a phenomenal person, and working with her is both fun and intellectually challenging." - Amanda Gillespie, K-12 Special Education Coordinator, Letter, 2022

Mary Jean Jones, MST, SPHR, NRAEMT (She/Her)

Recommendations
Video Introduction
Resume (pdf)
CV (pdf)

Introduction

The following is a sample Get To Know You for a leadership position.

Get To Know Your Staff!

Mary Jean Jones, MST, SPHR, NRAEMT (She/Her)

DEI Program Director

As a former teacher, bike shop manager, and Advanced EMT, Mary Jean has culminated her passions for science, education, and healthcare, into a Strategic Human Resources role, where she joins us as our new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Program Director. Mary Jean specializes in systems improvement, workflow and job design, strategic mission and vision, and employee wellness. In addition to ten years teaching middle- and high school math and science, and five years in hospital clinics, Mary Jean was also a Project Manager for Engineers Without Borders projects in Central America and Africa. Mary Jean is Discretely Queer, a private but open member of the LGBTQ+ community. In her free time, Mary Jean enjoys hiking, cycling, canoeing, baking, playing music, and watching Marvel movies with her cat. Mary Jean grew up in Boulder, CO, and her family has recently moved to be closer to relatives in the area.

My Personal Story

I grew up in Boulder, CO, with passions for science, helping people, and the outdoors. My dad was an engineer and my mom a teacher. I decided at an early age to pursue both careers, and started with engineering to gain content.

I was a Project Manager for Engineers Without Borders for three years. On a bike ride with my dad one day, we were observing geese on a lake, and enjoyed exploring the question, "Where do they go at night?" At that point I decided that I wanted to talk about science all day with students, and thus started my teaching career with an internship in Acadia National Park.

After teaching math and science for 10 years, I decided I was ready for a smaller classroom, and that my favorite part of teaching was taking care of people. I continue to enjoy taking care of people via my position in healthcare.

My shift to Human Resources began with providing more and more support for my colleagues. This is selfish, really: helping my colleagues meant improving my own workplace! The positivity of the FISH! Philosophy resonated with me, the training for which I had completed as a teacher in 2014, so I completed the Train The Trainer program in the summer of 2022.

Having an affinity for education and learning, and with 5 years of prior Human Resources experience with Center for People With Disabilities, Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development, Colorado State University, Engineers Without Borders, and Bingham Cyclery, I then completed the Senior Professional in Human Resources pathway in May 2024 (see SPHR).

Currently, particularly because University of Utah Health adopted a Shared Governance, I am able to contribute more of my supportive ideas and programs, such as a Medical Assistant Peer Review Process (see example Guide) and Commuter Stewardship Program, and I am better equipped for managerial positions in Science Education and Healthcare.

Having overcome significant adversities, I have survival skills as well as the means to thrive, which I pass along by way of my enthusiasm for encouragement and helping others.

Please also see my Diverse Life Experiences Photo Blog

2016, Antelope Island with my Dad

2017, Water Quality Testing

2020, commuting by train with my new electric cargo bike

"MJ is a happy and interactive person. She is at ease with peers and supervisors, and through skilled interpersonal actions, helps other be at ease with her." Jeff Owen, Student Teaching Advisor, Letter, 2011

Education

2026, ACLS, PALS
EMT-Utah

2024, ACLS, PALS, WFA
EMT-Utah

2023, Senior Professional In Human Resources (SPHR)
Salt Lake Community College

2023, Train the Trainer
2014, Educator Training
FISH! Company Philosophy

2019, BLS, EMT-B, AEMT, ACLS, PALS, AMLS, PHTLS, TCCC, WFR
EMT-Utah

2013, M.S. Teaching: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
University of Maine
Thesis: An Assessment of Ninth Graders’ Use of Graphs and Explanations to Communicate Scientific Ideas

2006, B.S. & B.A. Environmental Engineering & Ethics
Colorado State University

2019, visit with AirCare instructor

Content Enrichment

2017, High Alpine Ecology, Alpine Lake Ecology, and Fire Ecology

University of Colorado Mountain Research Station

2017, Level 1 Avalanche Safety

Utah Avalanche Center

Greetings Assignment

Sample Online Classroom Assignment

Our first video assignment is to tell us a little about yourselves. Post a 30-second video describing things such as activities and sports you like to do, pets you have, and hobbies. Don't let this take up too much of your time - it doesn't have to be perfect! Put a 5-minute limit on making a recording and exporting the file to share.