B. Kembrel Jones, a former deputy vice dean of student life at the Wharton School, passed away on May 13 from a heart attack. He was 62. 

Dr. Jones grew up in Florence, Alabama. He graduated from Bradshaw High School in 1978, where he was named Mr. Bradshaw High School. He then graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1982, serving as president of Sigma Chi fraternity. Upon graduation, he worked for the International Headquarters of Sigma Chi in Evanston, Illinois. He then earned a master’s degree and a PhD in education administration from Harvard University, graduating at the top of his class in the latter program. 

After graduating from Harvard, Dr. Jones racked up an impressive record of service in higher education. He first returned to his alma mater, the University of North Alabama, as director of alumni relations and annual giving. He later held positions at the University of Miami, Birmingham Southern College, and at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, from which he also earned an MBA. In 2008, he was recruited to the faculty of the Wharton School by Tom Robertson, a former colleague at Emory. That year, Dr. Jones became the deputy vice dean of student life at Wharton. 

At Wharton, Dr. Jones served the needs of over 1,500 MBA students, planning events for them and becoming known as the “Dean of Happiness” and the “Dr. Phil of Huntsman Hall” due to his friendly relationships with students and his availability as a friendly shoulder to cry on. “We have to debunk this mystery or these impressions people have of Wharton and Wharton MBAs,” he said in a 2010 Penn Today profile. They’re talented and they’re generous, and they’re thoughtful and they’re collaborative and they are creative. They are really, really good kids.” He was popular among the Wharton community and launched several traditional Wharton events, like the Spring Welcome, that are now customary. Dr. Jones retired from Penn in 2018. 

Dr. Jones worked at Yellowstone National Park during summers and mentored and advised interns there. 

Dr. Jones is survived by his mother, Joan Jones; his siblings, Pamela Jones Tyner (Kevin) and Rex Jones (Leslie); and five nephews and one niece. A visitation was held on May 22. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sigma Chi Foundation Scholarship fund for graduate scholarships to help future students have the opportunity to continue their education (sigmachi.org).