Ms. Adella Jones

Adella D. Jones was appointed Chief of Staff for the Chancellor’s Office at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in January of 2022. She is a veteran civic engagement strategist and communications professional with experience in legislative affairs, community engagement, media relations and corporate reputational management. Adella has a career portfolio that includes her service as the public information officer for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. She served as the St. Louis press secretary for former U.S. Congressman Richard A. Gephardt, as well as vice president of community and government affairs for the Bi-State Development Agency and Metro Transit. As a communications professional with roots in television news as an assignment editor, Ms. Jones has developed and delivered communications strategies for numerous Missouri and St. Louis-based initiatives, including a successful campaign to fund the bi-state region’s mass transit system, as well the launch of the Missouri subsidiary of national healthcare enterprise, Centene Corporation. Adella is a long-time member of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, and a recipient of the organization’s Living Legend by the association in 2022. She is a member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross Greater St. Louis Chapter.