MCC Daily Tribune
Welcoming Clayton Jones as Executive Director of Government Relations
Monroe Community College (MCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Clayton Jones as its new Executive Director of Government Relations. His first day at MCC will be Monday, August 17, 2026. Mr. Jones brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education. His extensive expertise in advocacy, public policy, and relationship building will be instrumental in strengthening MCC’s partnerships with local, state, and federal stakeholders, advancing the College’s legislative priorities, and supporting the goals outlined in our Vision2027 strategic plan.
Most recently, Mr. Jones served as Senior Director of Local Government and Community Relations for the University of Rochester, where he directed day-to-day local government and community relations activities, with an emphasis on advising University leadership on strategies to facilitate constructive dialogue with policymakers, leaders, and organizations to foster progress and collaboration. In this role, he developed partnerships with leadership and staff at the City of Rochester and Monroe County as part of a broader advocacy and government relations strategy.
As Executive Director of Government Relations, Mr. Jones will serve as Monroe Community College’s senior liaison to federal, state, and local government officials and agencies. Reporting directly to the President and working in close coordination with the Executive Leadership Team, he will provide strategic leadership and counsel on governmental affairs, public policy, and external engagement priorities to advance the College’s mission and strengthen advocacy for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.
Faculty and staff may recognize Mr. Jones from his previous tenure at MCC, where he served the College for more than 18 years. During that time, he held several leadership roles, including Admissions Counselor, Assistant to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Services, Assistant to the President for Government Relations, and Assistant to the President for Government and Community Relations.
Mr. Jones’ office will be located in 1-321B within the President’s Office suite. His phone extension is x2109. He can be contacted at cjones@monroecc.edu or governmentaffairs@monroecc.edu.
We gratefully acknowledge the Executive Director of Government Relations Search Committee and its co-chairs, Dr. Robin Cole Jr., Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and Career Technical Education, and Gretchen Wood, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the MCC Foundation, for their invaluable service and dedication. The committee conducted a thorough and thoughtful search that attracted a robust candidate pool, affording the College the opportunity to consider several impressive candidates at every stage of the process.
Please join us in welcoming Clayton Jones back to MCC as he works to strengthen relationships with our government and community partners to support the College’s mission and future growth.
DeAnna Burt-Nanna
Office of the President
08/14/2026