Jones is a Baseball Operations Director for Cleveland Guardians and a Class of 2016 Blackburn Graduate
Blackburn College has announced that Jared Jones, a 2016 graduate and director of team travel and logistics for Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians, will be the keynote speaker at the College’s 2025 commencement ceremony. The event will take place Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 am on the Hudson Quad.
Jones brings an inspiring perspective to this year’s graduating class, shaped by their shared experiences in Blackburn’s student-managed Work Program—the only student-managed program in the country. The Work Program offers students a way to gain valuable, hands-on experience in roles that directly support the College’s daily operations. Students who participate in the Program develop essential skills, build a resume, and reduce the cost of their education, all while earning a four-year degree.
Jones’s journey from a student worker on campus to a leadership role in the Major Leagues highlights the impact of Blackburn’s nationally recognized Program. While at Blackburn, Jones worked in game-day operations and even stepped in as the de facto athletic director during transition. After graduating from the Carlinville campus, he built a diverse resume in collegiate and professional sports, holding event operations roles with the Tennessee Titans and Vanderbilt University. At Nissan Stadium, he helped plan and execute large-scale events, including NFL games, international soccer matches, and major concerts.
In 2019, Jones joined the Cleveland Guardians organization, overseeing player development operations at the team’s spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona. He was later promoted to his current role in 2022, managing all aspects of team travel and logistics as part of the Guardians’ baseball operations team. Through the Work Program at Blackburn, students develop leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for success after graduation. Jones’s story is one of many examples of how Blackburn graduates combine academic knowledge and real-world experience to launch meaningful and rewarding careers.
Originally from Mitchell, Indiana, Jones lives in North Ridgeville, Ohio, with his wife, fellow Blackburn graduate Haley (Haynes) ’16, and their two daughters, Leighton and Jane.
Commencement weekend activities will begin Friday, May 16, with a Senior Send-Off at the Jaenke Alumni Center from 5 to 7 pm, followed by Senior Convocation at 7 pm in Bothwell Auditorium.
For more information, visit Blackburn’s Commencement page.