Maurice Antonia Jones (born September 14, 1964) is the

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especiall ...

of OneT

a coalition of companies dedicated to creating one million jobs for African Americans by the end of the

2020s The 2020s (pronounced "twenty-twenties" shortened to "the '20s" and referred to as the twenties) is the current decade, which began on January 1, 2020, and will end on December 31, 2029. The 2020s began with the COVID-19 pandemic — the first ...

. Previously, he was president and CEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national

community development financial institution A community development financial institution (US) or community development finance institution (UK) - abbreviated in both cases to CDFI - is a financial institution that provides credit and financial services to underserved markets and populations, ...

. Previously, he served as the Deputy Secretary of HUD in the Obama administration, and then as the

Virginia Secretary of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce and Trade is a member of the Virginia Governor's Cabinet. The office is currently held by Caren DeWitt Merrick. List of Secretaries of Commerce Secretary of Commerce and Resources (July 1, 1972–1986) * Maurice B. Rowe ...

in the cabinet of Governor

Terry McAuliffe Terence Richard McAuliffe (born February 9, 1957) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 72nd governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he was co-chairman of President Bill Clinton's 1996 ...

. Jones was born in rural Mecklenburg County and grew up on his grandparents'

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ch ...

farm near the town of Kenbridge. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from

Hampden–Sydney College gr, Ye Shall Know the Truth , established = , type = Private liberal arts men's college , religious_affiliation = Presbyterian Church (USA) , endowment = $258 million (2021) , president = Larry Stimpert , city = Hampden Sydney, Virginia , c ...

, where he graduated

Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Delta Kappa (), also known as The Circle and ODK, is one of the most prestigious honor societies in the United States with chapters at more than 300 college campuses. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University i ...

, before attending St. John's College, Oxford on a

Rhodes scholarship The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world ...

and the

University of Virginia School of Law The University of Virginia School of Law (Virginia Law or UVA Law) is the law school of the University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as part of his "academical v ...

. In November 2020, Jones was named a candidate for

United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development The United States secretary of housing and urban development (or HUD secretary) is the head of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, a member of the president's Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture ...

in the

Biden Administration Joe Biden's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 46th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Joe Biden, his inauguration on January 20, 2021. Biden, a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat from Delaw ...

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Maurice 1964 births African-American people in Virginia politics African-American state cabinet secretaries American Rhodes Scholars Hampden–Sydney College alumni Living people People from Kenbridge, Virginia People from Mecklenburg County, Virginia State cabinet secretaries of Virginia United States Deputy Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development University of Virginia School of Law alumni Obama administration personnel