David R. Jones
Media Contact: Kristin Kehrwald
301-784-5152
David R. Jones Named the Sixth President of Allegany College of Maryland:
Assumes New Role on January 1
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Nov. 15, 2024 — David R. Jones has been named as the next president of Allegany College of Maryland in Allegany County, Maryland, effective January 1, 2025. The Allegany College of Maryland Board of Trustees communicated their decision to faculty and staff and students on November 15. Jones succeeds President Cynthia S. Bambara, Ph.D., who announced her intent to retire last February.
Jones brings nearly 30 years of higher education experience, including 28 years working at Allegany College of Maryland (ACM). Jones currently serves as the vice president of advancement and community relations and executive director of the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation in Cumberland, Maryland.
“The Allegany College of Maryland Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee were impressed by Mr. Jones’ passion for our students and region. With a wealth of experience in higher education leadership, student and community engagement, partnership building and fund development, Mr. Jones is poised to lead with vision and integrity as College President,” said Kim Leonard, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees.
“We are confident that Mr. Jones will build on Allegany College of Maryland’s outstanding history of serving its community, students, and business and industry workforce partners,” continued Leonard.
"I am committed to working closely with all faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders to continue Allegany College of Maryland’s legacy of excellence and chart a course for continued growth and success. Together, we will leverage our collective strengths, creativity, and resilience to address the College's challenges and opportunities and ensure that the ACM remains a beacon of academic excellence, innovation, and opportunity,” Jones said.
“I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for the confidence they have placed in me, and I look forward to the journey ahead and what we will accomplish together. As President of Allegany College of Maryland, our employees, students, and community will remain my top priority in every interaction and decision,” said Jones.
Born in central Appalachia, Jones is a long-time resident of Allegany County, Maryland, and a product of the Allegany County Public School System, as are his children. He attended Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, where he earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction as well as a Bachelor of Science in Social Science and Education.
Jones returned to Allegany County in 1996 to accept a position as an administrative associate to Donald Alexander, Ph.D., the third president of Allegany College of Maryland. The next year, Jones was named as director of fundraising and grant writing. Later, he became the executive director of the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation. In 2014, he was named the vice president of grants and development, before moving into his current role as vice president of advancement and community relations and executive director of the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation the following year.
Under Jones’ leadership, the College has secured more than $68 million in grant funding. Jones has helped to spearhead funding for a wide range of initiatives, including academic programs, athletics, campus safety and security, capital projects, community and civic engagement, facility updates and renovations, student services, and workforce development programs.
Jones is also a seasoned fundraiser, working collaboratively to raise more than $30 million for the College’s affiliated foundations. Under his leadership, over $20 million in scholarship funds have been awarded to support students through education and job training.
Jones is valued as a gifted collaborator and well-respected for his government relations efforts. His strategic leadership has also supported the development and expansion of numerous programs, including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, early college, nursing, P-TECH, and teacher education and further positioned ACM as a leader in meeting the region’s education and workforce needs.
Jones is a four-time recipient of the College’s Outstanding Achievement Award of Excellence. He received the College’s Community and Civic Engagement Award in 2024.In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jones has contributed extensively to his community, serving on various boards and non-profit organizations, including the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, the Allegany Museum, the Frostburg Memorial Park, the LaVale Lions Club, and the Rotary Club of Cumberland.
Jones lives by the concept of servant leadership, paying close attention to the needs of the organization and those within it, and always putting the interests of others ahead of his own. His serve-first concept extends to leadership roles in the community. His keen interest in youth development included previous soccer, basketball, and softball coaching, and his church, where he is active as a youth leader and a deacon.
He and his wife, Elaine, a Certified Public Accountant, are the parents of three adult children, and they reside in Frostburg, Maryland.
ABOUT ACM
Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) is a small, learner-focused college offering 48
associate degrees, 31 certificates, 10 letters of recognition, noncredit workforce
development programs, personal enrichment classes, and adult education and literacy
services. More than 3,300 credit and 7,000 noncredit students choose ACM each year,
attending online or in person through the college’s two campuses and five education
sites in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Over 88% of students receive financial aid, and
57% of students transfer to colleges in more than 27 states. ACM was founded in 1961
as a transfer college in Cumberland, Maryland. Visit ACM online at www.allegany.edu.
