Sammer Saleh Jones
Project: U21 Partnership Metrics Survey and Toolkit
Research Interests:
- Global higher education strategy and diplomacy
Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones is Director for Global Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she leads the university’s global partnership strategy and advances high-impact international engagement. In this role, she oversees the development and management of strategic institutional partnerships, international agreements, and high-level delegations, working closely with senior leadership to align global initiatives with the university’s research, education, and innovation priorities.
Dr. Jones plays a central role in shaping Illinois’ global footprint, connecting international partners with campus stakeholders and cultivating collaborations that elevate the university’s presence worldwide. She serves as the Campus Fulbright Scholar Liaison and as the Universitas 21 (U21) Officer, driving engagement across one of the world’s leading global university networks. She also directs the university’s trilateral partnership with National Taiwan University and Kyushu University, a flagship initiative advancing collaborative innovation across regions.
In addition to her administrative leadership, Dr. Jones is a Faculty Affiliate in the College of Education, where her scholarship reflects a deep commitment to global education and historical inquiry. A former Fulbright Administrative Fellow to Germany, she brings extensive international experience and a multidisciplinary perspective shaped by work across Africa, Europe, and the United States.
Dr. Jones holds a BS from Simmons College, an MPH from Boston University, and both an MBA and PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on the nineteenth-century educational history of Liberia, West Africa, and underscores her broader commitment to advancing equitable and globally engaged higher education.