Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, Dean of Educational Outreach, first came to the Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) as a freshman in 1987. Jones earned both her B.A. and M.A.T. degrees in English from Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama). Her Ph.D. in American Literature is from the University of Southern Mississippi.

While obtaining her degrees, Jones discovered a love of journalism and writing. She has worked with the Western Star newspaper in Bessemer, Alabama, and served as the faculty advisor for UWA’s weekly student newspaper, The Life for 12 years. She was the co-editor with Dr. Joe Taylor of the anthology Belles’ Letters: Contemporary Stories of Alabama Women, and one of four editors for Tartts: Incisive Fiction from Emerging Writers, which is now in its sixth anthology. In 2010, Jones served as the chair of the 175th anniversary committee for UWA and edited Bridging Time: 175 Years at The University of West Alabama.

Now in her ninteenth year as a faculty member at UWA, she holds the rank of professor in English. Jones serves as president for board of directors for the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation and is a member of board of directors for the Sumter County Fine Arts Council. Jones also serves as the executive director for the Center for the Study of the Black Belt housed in the Division of Educational Outreach.

Jones’ interest in the Black Belt of Alabama and preservation stems largely from research gathered during the writing of her dissertation, Stealing Away from Society’s Conventions: Negotiations of Voice in the Work of Ruby Pickens Tartt. A noted Alabama folklorist, a native of Sumter County, an Alabama Normal College (now UWA) and member of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame, Tartt became a gateway for Jones’ study into West Alabama history and Black Belt culture.

She is the 2007 winner of the Gilbert Outstanding Award for Teaching and a past winner of the Loraine McIlwain Bell trustee professorship award and College of Liberal Arts Achievement Award.

She is the mother of Jordan Faith, and she and her husband, Britt (also a UWA alumni), own and operate Backwater Gallery and Frame in Livingston, Ala.

Black Belt History and Culture; folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt, media literacy

• Jones, Tina N., general editor, Bridging Time: 175 Years at the University of West Alabama. Donning Company Publishers, Virginia Beach, Va.: 2010.
  Jones, Tina N. “Ruby Pickens Tartt.” Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/index.htm. 
•  “Vera Hall.” Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/index.htm.
•  “The University of West Alabama.” Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/index.htm 
•  co-editor. Belles' Letters: Contemporary Stories of Alabama Women. Livingston Press, 1999.

• Jones, Tina N. “A Dialogue on Diversity and Alabama’s Black Belt.” International Heritage Development Conference; Charleston, South Carolina; June 27, 2010.
• Jones, Tina N. and Dorothy Walker, “Preserving Alabama’s Black Belt” poster presentation at the National Trust for Historic Preservation annual conference; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Oct. 24, 2008.
• Jones, Tina N., Valerie Burnes, Eleanor Cunningham, and Mary Jeanne Packer, “ Transformation on the Land: Alabama’s Black Belt” presented American Association of State and Local History annual conference; Rochester, New York; Sept. 10, 2008.

Grants received from Alabama State Council on the Arts, ADECA, Federal Highway Administration, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Tombigbee RC&D, Conservation Fund

President, Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation
President, Black Belt Heritage Area
Member, Alabama Folklife Association Board
Member, Sumter County Fine Arts Council Board
Community Associate, Black Belt Community Foundation