Jones graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Barnard College at Columbia University. Before attending graduate school, she worked as an assistant for research at the Rockefeller University in immunology and development biology. Jones obtained her PhD in 1985 from the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University, where she studied the effects of stress on protein expression and metabolism, using nuclear magnetic resonance.

 

Prior to working for the U.S. government, Jones was an independent consultant, and served for a year in New Delhi, India as, the biotechnology advisor to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission.

 

She worked in management and technical positions with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and USAID before becoming associate director for national security and international affairs at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (1996-1999).  Jones was responsible for policy development, budget analysis, and interagency coordination of security and international science and technology issues, including nuclear non-proliferation, counterterrorism, emerging infectious disease and international cooperation. During her tenure, she testified before the Senate and served as interim director of the office. Jones also served on the National Security Council as the senior director for science and technology affairs.

 

From 2000 to 2002 she served as the director for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research for the state of Maine.

 

She then became director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Office of International Science and Engineering, where she remained until 2005. Jones was responsible for coordinating NSF’s international activities and managing a program investment focused on fostering international collaborative research and providing international research experiences for U.S. students and researchers. Under her leadership, the Office of International Science and Engineering established the Partnership for International Research and Education.

 

Prior to her appointment to the State Department, Jones worked as an independent consultant specializing in strategic planning and the development of research and education portfolios. In 2008, she donated $3,300 to the senatorial campaign of Maine Democrat Tom Allen.

 

In 1997, Jones married attorney Thomas Beck.

 

Kerri-Ann Jones Official Biography (State Department)

Confirmation Hearing Statement (pdf)

Kerri-Ann Jones: The Role of Science Diplomacy in Advancing Global Health (AAAS)