Office Of The President
Choosing the right college is an important decision and can be a large investment. Stark State College makes the decision-making process easier.
Whether you choose to enroll in Stark State’s university transfer program or one of our applied technology degree programs, you can be assured of our commitment to provide high-quality, innovative educational programs and services.
One year at Stark State can save you 60% off the tuition at most public four-year colleges and universities, and our tuition is a fraction of the tuition at a private four-year college. We have transfer agreements with colleges and universities throughout Ohio, which makes it seamless and convenient for you to start here and finish anywhere!
Stark State can give you an edge—an opportunity to develop the skills demanded by today’s employers. With excellent instruction, personal attention and practical hands-on education in some of the hottest career fields, Stark State will equip you for success. Each year, about 13,000 students come to Stark State to prepare for a successful future.
We offer more than 200 programs of study, including transfer programs for those continuing at four-year colleges and beyond. Students prepare for careers in business; health care; information technology; industrial and engineering technology; automotive technology; culinary arts; human and social services; education and more.
As you explore colleges, I hope you will consider Stark State College. Spend less. Earn more. Go further.
Warmest regards,
Para M. Jones, Ph.D.
President
Para M. Jones, Ph.D.
President, Stark State College
Para M. Jones, Ph.D., has served as president of Stark State College for more than 14 years, leading with a deep belief in the transformative power of education to change lives, strengthen communities and create opportunity.
Dr. Jones’s career with Stark State spans 37 years across two tenures. She first served in a range of leadership roles, advancing from marketing to vice president, building on earlier experience in corporate communications and marketing roles with Roadway Express and Goodyear Aerospace. She then went on to serve as president of Spartanburg Community College (SC) for three years before returning home to Stark State in 2012 as president.
Under her leadership, the College has expanded its service district to include Akron and Summit County; expanded College Credit Plus (CCP) partnerships with K-12 districts across Northeast Ohio; improved student success outcomes, with students achieving the highest graduation rates in college history; launched the bachelor of science in nursing program; partnered with NEOMED to create a seamless pathway for students from the associate degree in science to the doctoral degree in pharmacy, as well as pre-med and pre-dental tracks; established Direct Connect partnership with University of Akron and historic articulation with The Ohio State University; significantly expanded employer partnerships; developed new programs, such as CDL and LPN, in response to workforce needs; achieved maximum state fiscal stability ratings; increased college reserves 266%; increased foundation endowment 470%; and attracted nearly $85 million in federal, state and local grants to support students and programs.
Among many honors and awards, Dr. Jones received the Greater Akron Chamber’s Inaugural Chairman’s Award for Community Impact, The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stark County Educational Services Center, national and state awards from Phi Theta Kappa international honor society for community college students, was named to Ohio Business Magazine’s top 500 Ohio leaders list, was named Executive of the Year by National Sales and Marketing Executives Akron/Canton Chapter and received the ATHENA Award.
Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Nebraska, an MBA with honors from Ashland University and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in English, communications and Spanish from the University of Mount Union. She will retire in June 2027, leaving a legacy of opportunity, impact and hope for generations to come.
State and Local Boards:
- Governor’s Executive Workforce Board
- Stark Development Board Executive Committee
- Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce
- Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
- ConxusNEO
- Strengthening Stark Governance Committee
- Elevate Greater Akron Steering Committee
- TeamNEO Talent Development Council
- Stark Education Partnership
- Workforce Investment Board for Stark and Tuscarawas Counties
- Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Growth and Advocacy Network (MAGNET)
- Akron Urban League Founding Member, Women’s Impact, Inc.
- Stark County Women’s Impact
National Affiliations and Awards:
- American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
- Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), chair of President’s Council
- National Education Council, The Manufacturing Institute (affiliated with National Assn of Manufacturers)
- Member, Ohio Board of Regents’ Task Force on Technology Transfer and Commercialization
- Member, Franklin University’s President’s Council
- Participated in U.S. delegation visit to Germany, with community college presidents, state departments of labor and U.S. Department of Education representative. Trip hosted by German ambassador, with the purpose of showcasing Germany’s education and training system
- Participated in two national dialogues in Washington, DC, hosted by the Brookings Institute as part of a White House initiative to develop an advanced manufacturing workforce; and Johns Hopkins AICGS (American Institute on Contemporary German Studies) dialogue with U.S. and German education, business and government leaders on how the German apprenticeship and training model could support U.S. advanced manufacturing training needs.
- Athena Award Recipient, Stark County Women’s Impact
Take the next step
Whether you’re just starting out, making your college comeback or looking for a change, you belong at Stark State.