RSU alumna Tashona Jones has joined the university’s communications and marketing team as website and social media coordinator.
To paraphrase painter Bob Ross, RSU alumna Tashona Jones’s life is one that’s been filled with happy accidents, the latest of these culminated in her return to the Hill as the university’s new website and social media coordinator.
Until recently, Jones was an SEO (search engine optimization) engineer and website builder at Driven Digital in Pryor, when she learned of an opening at RSU on the Communications and Marketing team.
“It was really by accident that I found out about the position at RSU,” Jones said. “I’d been at Driven Digital since 2020 and, just for fun, had been looking around to see if there were any other jobs available in the area.
“Before I was there (at Driven Digital), I spent several years as assistant stage manager at the Robson Performing Arts Center in Claremore,” she continued. “One of my old summer theater kids encouraged me to apply at RSU. I looked into it and saw there was an opening for website coordinator, so I applied for that, and got the position. I’m so happy to be back.”
Jones’s first official day on staff at RSU was Monday, June 23 – her first full day back at her alma mater since graduating in 2012 with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design.
After graduating from RSU, Jones went to work at the Robson PAC – another “happy accident,” she said – and continued to work there until August 2024.
Her work at the PAC overlapped with other jobs, including working as an expeditor for the Claremore Daily Progress newspaper from 2015-19, and her time at Driven Digital, which began in 2020. She also found work as a freelance graphic artist and illustrator.
In her new role as website and social media coordinator, Jones will be responsible for all website-based marketing and communication activities as well as social media activities at the university, serving in the Office of Communications and Marketing as part of an integrated marketing/communications team, under the direction of the Director of Communications and Marketing Kenny Day.
“I am excited for Tashona Jones to join our team as our website and social media coordinator,” Day said. “As an RSU alumna, she has a long history with the university and a personal connection to our mission. Her knowledge, depth of experience, creativity, and passion for all things RSU will make her a valuable member of the team.
“I look forward to seeing how she positively impacts our efforts into the future,” he said.
When asked how it felt to be back on the Hill, Jones was succinct, replying, “It’s pretty awesome.”
“It’s great, but very surreal to be back here on staff,” she said. “When I was a student, I spent so much time up here, even after hours. I was part of the art club, we started a video game club. It’s very awesome for me to be here, to be working here now. It’s like a homecoming. I’m so happy to be here.”
Jones lives in the Bushyhead area, near Claremore, with her two cats, Momiji and Delbert.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with and assisting her parents, including going fishing with her father, and sewing and crafting with her mother. She also enjoys doing leatherwork and armor crafting, creating her own cosplay costumes for which she has won numerous honors.