Professional Profile

Get to Know Dr. Kenneth Jones, Ph.D. (September 2023)

Dr. Kenneth Jones joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky in the Department of Community and Leadership Development in January 2005. At the time, he also had a joint appointment in the state 4-H office as an Extension specialist, where his work included providing resources for 4-H agents and other youth development professionals through trainings and publications. A former county extension agent, his research employs quantitative and qualitative methods that aim to address specific issues affecting youth-serving practitioners and other community-based organizations. His research interests include assessing youth-adult relationships within community contexts, positive youth development, mentoring and program development within community settings. 

From 2010 -  2024, Dr. Jones also served as the Director of Program and Staff Development for the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. He provided statewide direction for: program development and evaluation, training of county-based and state-level Cooperative Extension professionals, and leading efforts in preparing reports for Extension stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels. He currently serves as Director of Extension Faculty Development and Engaged Scholarship for the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, as well as Assistant Provost in the University of Kentucky Office for Faculty Advancement.

Areas of Interest

Extension Education, Job Embeddedness/Staff Development, Life Skills Development, Urban Extension Programming, Youth Civic Engagement, Youth-Adult Relationships/Partnerships