Dr. Marcus Jones

Jones is an accomplished higher education executive with over two decades of leadership, teaching and legal experience. He currently serves as chief operating officer and senior vice president of Legal Affairs for the University of Louisiana System, where he oversees strategic, operational, legal and compliance functions across nine universities. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing higher education through collaborative leadership, international engagement and operational excellence.

From 2021 to 2024, Jones served as president of Northwestern State University, where he was the institution’s 20th president. Prior to that, he held several key leadership roles at NSU, including executive vice president for University and Business Affairs and vice president for University Affairs. A longtime faculty member, he also taught courses in business law, international business and economics, and played a central role in expanding the university’s global outreach and partnerships.

Jones holds a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center, a Master of Science in International Business and Trade from Grambling State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from NSU. He also studied international business and economics at the University of Plymouth in England through a student exchange program and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.