Faculty Union President Announces Retirement

After serving Edinboro University for 20 years, long-time faculty member and Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties Union (APSCUF) president, Dr. Jean Jones has decided to retire.

“It’s interesting. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and I’m retiring a little bit young. I think the biggest thing that pushed me over the edge to do it was, I went to the funeral of my colleague Joe Laythe, and he and I started at Edinboro at the same time, and I thought this is very profound, you never know.”

Following her retirement, Jones shared that she plans to pursue her passion for Latin American culture.

“This is not the end of my career, this is the next phase. Over the last 8 or 10 years, I have fallen in love with Latin America, I’ve been going there a lot and spending every spare moment there. In particular, Guatemala has become my favorite place. I am really looking forward to spending more time in Guatemala and perhaps teaching English there.”

Jones first came to Edinboro University in 1995, and has since held several leadership positions, including director of the Dr. Robert C. Weber Honors Program, communications professor, and president of APSCUF.

In regards to the future of the faculty union, Jones stated, “I think the good news here at Edinboro is, over the last number of years we [the union] have worked really hard to develop a really good working relationship between management and union. We all have a common goal, and it’s that we want Edinboro to do well.”

Jones also shared that the current vice president of the union, Dr. Michael Bucell, will take over her presidential position, until the union elects new union officials next April.

“I have complete faith in the new leaders that are coming up and taking over.”

Jones shared that, while she will miss her leadership positions, she will mostly miss the teaching aspect of her role at Edinboro.

“I love, love, love teaching. I get paid to hang out with young people and read books. It doesn’t get any better than that, and I’m going to miss that a lot.”

Macala Leigey is the News Editor for The Specator and she can be reached at eupnews.spectator@gmail.com.

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