Monica Jones, former associate dean of students and chief diversity officer for Marietta College, has been named Central Ohio Transit Authority’s (COTA) first chief equity officer.

Jones will oversee the conception, design, implementation, growth, and evaluation of the organization’s strategy surrounding equity, diversity, and inclusion. She will also partner with leaders to develop and implement strategies, programs, policies, and metrics that successfully attract, retain, and advance diversity within and outside COTA.

At Marietta College, Jones provided key campus leadership on initiatives designed to ensure inclusive excellence on campus with an intentional focus on underrepresented populations, including first-generation, low-income, and racial or ethnic minority students. She also collaborated with college offices to contribute to the development and delivery of learning experiences, workshops, and presentations designed to foster and support the inclusion of individuals and groups in the campus community. Prior to her tenure at Marietta, Jones served at Berea College as director of the Black Cultural Center and at Ohio University as director of diversity for regional campuses and as director of student services.