Blue, Jones Join Leadership Group
DENVER—The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) announces two new members have joined its Board of Trustees. Jourdan Jones, senior director, market and competitive strategy at TIAA; and Dionne A. Blue, Ph.D., chief diversity officer for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in Indiana, each will serve an initial three-year term on the board.
“As NEFE moves to usher in a new era focused on improving financial well-being, we rely on leadership who can provide diverse and unique insights and perspectives. With Jourdan Jones and Dionne Blue, we add more expertise to help us continue to grow as an organization,” says Billy Hensley, Ph.D., president and CEO of NEFE. “We enthusiastically welcome Jourdan and Dionne, both incredibly accomplished individuals, to our leadership group.”
Jourdan Jones
Jones joined TIAA in 2010 and has held different positions related to strategic development and creating initiatives linked to improving financial well-being. Before taking on the position of senior director, market and competitive strategy, Jones worked in strategic client engagement and as special assistant to the CEO at TIAA. Today his efforts are focused on developing TIAA’s wellness strategy—the goal being to deliver the best of TIAA to customers in an integrated and differentiated way to help create superior life-long financial outcomes.
Jones currently holds several national leadership positions. He serves on the board of directors of Behind the Book, a New York-based organization focused on inspiring students to love to read. Jones also serves as chair of TIAA’s NYC Empowered Business Resource Group. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government and business foundations from the University of Texas.
“I have admired NEFE for many years. What I have found compelling about NEFE is its commitment to advancing financial well-being for all,” says Jones. “When an individual—at any age or with any background—has the opportunity to become financially literate doors will open, and they are empowered to fulfill their dreams and live the life that they want. I am excited to have the opportunity to support NEFE as the organization continues to do incredible work and improve the effectiveness of financial education.”
Dionne A. Blue, Ph.D.
Blue, as chief diversity officer for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation—the third largest school district in Indiana—develops and implements a collaborative vision for diversity and equity inside and outside the classroom. She also ensures equity and inclusion within district policies and processes across all areas of the school corporation. Prior, Blue served as a program officer on the Gates Foundation’s small schools initiative at KnowledgeWorks Foundation. Before her work in the nonprofit sector, Blue had a career in higher education student affairs, serving as director of women student services at The Ohio State University, and coordinator of the African American Student Center at Washington State University.
Blue has written publications and is a member of several organizations. Her current roles include member of the board of directors for the YWCA Evansville, and president of the Joshua Academy Charter School board, where she has been a member for nine years and president for three years. Blue received a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta. She later earned a master’s degree in literacy education from Washington State University, and a Ph.D. in integrated teaching and learning from The Ohio State University.
“I am excited to be a part of NEFE and the work that is being pushed forward to have a more holistic understanding of the importance and impact of financial education. It is imperative that financial education aim to be balanced, and that there be parity in its development and implementation. I look forward to bringing my background working with individuals and change-agents on the ground to NEFE’s passionate leadership team.”
Read more on the NEFE Board of Trustees.
