Jones shared the 2008 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education with her mentor, Yale University Professor Emeritus of Psychology Edward Zigler, and Assistant Professor of Child Psychology and Psychology Walter Gilliam for their book, “A Vision for Universal Preschool Education.”

The book argues that such a universal program would improve the readiness of the nations’ young children, fill a gap for working families, lower the high school dropout rate, reduce crime, and boost the economy.

“Decades of research indicate the need for a universal preschool education program in the U.S. to give children a solid cognitive and social foundation on which to build their futures.  Our book summarizes this work and lays out a plan in accessible language for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers,” said Jones. “The characteristics that make up this plan are based on what research tells us would be most effective for children and most useful for parents.”

Jones currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes in the Department of Psychology. Her research interests include the effects of poverty and exposure to violence on social and emotional development in early childhood and adolescence.

She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Yale in 2002.