OHIO professor’s life experience brings focus to Voinovich School’s master’s offerings

Among many such examples on OHIO’s faculty team, Professor Jason Jolley is the personification of the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

His expertise is in economic, workforce and rural development, but his private life’s passion, due to his personal experiences, is advocating for the developmentally disabled community.

Driven by the challenges faced by two daughters with profound disabilities, that passion has led him to local and statewide leadership roles in that arena, including his recent election as president of the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB).

While his leadership on that front is notable, Jolley prefers to focus on the educational opportunities presented to people working in the DD field, many of whom have taken advantage of an OACB-Voinovich School partial scholarship offering for master’s programs.

The professor of rural economic development and Master of Public Administration director said each year several students who are working DD professionals have taken advantage of the tuition discounts – and for a good reason.

“They see value in our programs because of the applied nature of our faculty and because our faculty are not teaching in theory, we’re teaching practical and leadership skills,” he said. “We have faculty who are actively engaged in a variety of applied public service work in the state of Ohio.”

Jolley, as an example, is heavily involved in the Ohio Economic Development Association and other partners such as JobsOhio as part of his work at the University.

“I see this as a place where we have a lot of credibility to engage our students who are working in these fields,” he said, adding that the “public service” aspect of the school is embraced by its faculty.

“We have people at the school who are not just ivory tower academics, but actually out engaged in real world issues,” Jolley said.

In his case, Jolley has reached the pinnacle of his volunteerism in the DD sphere during a challenging time for government groups such as county boards that rely heavily on property tax revenue for operations. Recent developments on that front, including new laws and a potential statewide ballot issue to ban property taxes, promise to bring challenges to local officials focused on underserved populations.

“It’s an interesting year to be president,” Jolley said.

OHIO alumni serving as leaders in the region

Among other DD leaders in the area bracing for that challenge are two alumni of the Voinovich School’s Executive MPA program: Kevin Davis, superintendent of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Jeffrey Allen, superintendent of the Pike County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

“We’re going to have to go back for a new levy in an ever-changing climate. It’s DD Awareness Month next month and we’re going to work on that amidst our awareness efforts,” Allen said. “It’s just a challenge meeting the increased needs of our individuals and families, and our staff trying to maintain all of that.”

After working as the board’s director of business development for several years, Allen, who also earned his undergraduate degree from OHIO, was encouraged to enroll in the MPA program by colleagues, including former board Superintendent Roger Kemper.

He credits the experience of gaining his executive MPA with his success in the leadership position he has held for about five years.

“It helped me a great deal,” he said, adding he has kept in touch with many contacts he met during that time. “My classmates and professors were all great to work with.”

Various classes touched on things he has faced as a superintendent, Allen said. They included public speaking, group projects and collaborations with staff and agencies, and “communicating and working well with others.”

“It was a great help the way they presented things in the classes,” he said. “The way they set things up there, every little step, or things you might come across after you graduate, was covered.”

“Everything worked out for me," Allen said. "It was a blessing and I really appreciate what Jason and all the professors have done for me in my situation and my future. It’s been a big help.”

More information on the Voinovich School’s MPA program is available on the school’s website.