A 14-year Brock University employee has been named the new registrar.

Geraldine Jones takes over the role from Barb Davis, who retired at the end of June.

Jones was born in Scotland, but moved to Canada with her family when she was a young child. She grew up in St. Catharines and graduated from Ryerson before getting her first job at Brock in 2002. During her time here, she earned her master’s degree in Popular Culture.

She has held various roles around the school, starting with Manager, Student Awards. She became Deputy Registrar in 2014, and is a member of the executive committee for the Ontario Universities Registrar’s Association.

Brock Vice-Provost James Mandigo called the registrar a key position at the University.

“From student success, admissions, advising Senate and the Board, and helping to set and implement the strategic goals of the University, the Registrar needs to work with all members of the University community,” he said.

Mandigo said Jones was an ideal candidate for the role.

“She has developed strong and positive relationships across Brock’s campus. Her dedication and student-centred approach to the day-to-day operations of the Registrar’s Office and her commitment to achieving the long-term goals and objectives of the University will only further enhance the success of Brock.”

Jones said she learned a lot from working with Davis.

“Barb was definitely a mentor and gave me an opportunity to grow and get a better understanding of the governance processes and the bigger picture things,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate at Brock to have ground-level experience and then work my way up. Hopefully I’ll have a breadth of understanding around student needs.”

Jones said with universities all having to work harder to attract students, the role of the registrar’s office in the overall student experience will continue to expand.

“With a time of massive change, service is going to be a great differentiator. I often liken the registrar’s office to the backbone. You don’t really realize it’s there and that you need it until it starts to hurt. If we’re doing what we need to do well and successfully, then we’re sort of unnoticed.”

Jones said the office takes great pride in the role it plays throughout a student’s time at Brock.

“We’re one of the few units that gets to engage with students from when Brock is one of just the many options for them to the point that they cross the convocation stage. We’re uniquely positioned, and it’s a privileged experience to see that journey,” she said.

Jones officially starts in the new position Monday, July 18.