CARA VAN METER
Living Editor
Like many little boys who long to follow in dad’s footsteps, when he was a kid Dr. John Jones loved to tag along with his dad, Dale.
Whether playing catch in the front yard or helping out with the chores around the farm, everywhere Dale went John could be found following right behind him, stretching out his legs to reach each of Dad’s footsteps. His devoted adoration of his father earned him the nickname “Little Dale” in his hometown of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Today, Jones, an associate professor of communication, has traveled a long way from Missouri to Malibu. Though he no longer goes by “Little Dale,” Jones’ degree of devotion to the things he loves is no less than the devotion that little boy in Poplar Bluff had for his father.
Just as he used to follow his dad so persistently, Jones now pursues his life passions with the same joyful diligence. According to Jones, who thanks his family for instilling Christian values in his life, that list of passions is topped by his faith. The Ronald Reagan posters that cover the walls of his office offer a little insight into another matter that ranks pretty high on the list.
“I started researching my favorite president, Ronald Reagan, when I was working on my master’s thesis at Kansas University,” Jones said. “I continue doing it today, and I could probably do it for the rest of my life and be the happiest person on earth.”
With nearly half a dozen works about Reagan published in journals ranging from “Rhetoric and Public Affairs” to “the Journal of Radio Studies,” Jones says he is grateful and excited that editors are still interested in Reagan nearly two decades after he left office. Jones, ever humble about his success, is quick to clarify that he has had help along the way – both from God and from his “partner in crime,” Dr. Robert Rowland of Kansas University.
Rowland is the professor and adviser who initially encouraged Jones to go with his gut and research Reagan for his master’s thesis. Jones had worried that the faculty at Kansas University, which he described as “notoriously liberal, like most state schools,” might not like the topic.
Rowland, who Jones now calls a “Reagan Democrat,” convinced him that he needed to stick with a topic he loved or writing a thesis on it would be “absolute drudgery.”
Now, more than 10 years later, Jones and Rowland are still collaborating in researching the nuances of Ronald Reagan’s presidency and publishing their findings. Rowland says he values Jones’s friendship as well as his professional dedication.
“I have utterly enjoyed all my experiences with John,” Rowland said. “He’s a terrific person and a relentless researcher.”
Jones, who specializes in the study of presidential rhetoric, says his particular interest in Ronald Reagan stems from a respect for Reagan’s skill as a leader but also for his strong values. He describes Reagan as a gifted writer, thinker and speaker.
“Reagan believed that America is a great nation full of people who can do the extraordinary,” Jones said. “He really stood up for those principles and defended them.”
Yet, in spite of his personal admiration for Ronald Reagan, Jones is careful to remain objective in his research, refusing to let bias cloud his judgment.
Though he recognizes the danger of “falling in love with your topic” as a researcher, Jones maintains that he is interested not in Reagan propaganda but solely in discovering the truth.
“I want to be able to say that I took a critical look,” Jones said, “and if what emerges is good, so be it.” Jones added, “Fortunately, I have enough liberal friends to remind me that Reagan, while a great man, also had his weaknesses.”
One of those friends, Dr. Mike Jordan, who also works in the Communication Division, said Jones has succeeded in keeping his work free of party biases and making accessible to all who are interested in political speech.
“Even though I’m a Democrat, and on the liberal side of things, John’s research is so relevant and so compelling,” Jordan said. “He gives us a basis to evaluate human communication on a much larger scale. It transcends politics. That’s the best kind of research.”
Jones advises Americans to pay close attention to what politicians have to say and how they say it.
“Don’t park your brain,” Jones said. “Too many people listen to political rhetoric in a couch potato mode. They don’t critically think about what they’re being told. When someone is trying to persuade you, you should insist they give you good reasons to believe what they believe.”
Jones offers the same advice to his students, whether they’re taking a freshman speech class or a senior level communication ethics course. As an associate professor of communication, Jones has been able to exercise his faith and continue his Reagan research while simultaneously serving the interest that he says ties Reagan for second place on his list of life passions: teaching. He began teaching at Pepperdine in 1999 shortly after completing his doctorate in Communications from Kansas University.
Pepperdine Senior Deborah Kim, who took Jones’ Communication Ethics course in the fall, says she appreciated his dedication to his students and to the material he teaches.
“You can tell that he is very passionate about what he teaching,” Kim said. “He wants his students to succeed – to be able to apply what they learn in class.”
Jones says he has greatly enjoyed the quality of the students and describes Pepperdine as his “dream university.”
“What I love about Pepperdine is the opportunity to talk about my faith in the classroom, to integrate my faith into teaching,” Jones said. “I very much feel like the work I do at Pepperdine is as a minister, not just a professor.”
Jones’s ministry includes talking and praying with students outside of class as well as being involved with the University Church of Christ. Jones also uses Campus Ministry events like Wednesday Night Worship as an opportunity to share his faith with students and encourage them in their own Christian walks. Campus Minister Linda Truschke says Jones’s desire to serve God is evident in the way he serves his students.
“He always has a smile on his face, and he makes everyone feel good,” Truschke said. “His love for God is so obvious in the way he treats people.”
One of Kim’s classmates, junior Alyssa Ayotte, agrees.
“As great as he is as a teacher, what I really appreciate about him is that he wants to get involved in campus life as well,” Ayotte said. “His care for the student doesn’t end in the classroom. He is also a great friend and mentor.”
Though Jones is a long way from Poplar Bluff, the same words students and colleagues use to describe him are the words that Jones uses to describe his father – involved, generous, caring and encouraging. Dale Jones never walked around Malibu. Nevertheless, it seems that John Jones is still following in his father’s footsteps. And now he’s leading others along the same path of integrity too.
04-13-2006
