Nolonda Jones

Nolonda Jones is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design at Louisiana State University (LSU), based in the College of Art & Design. She holds a B.S. from Florida A&M University and an MFA in Interior Architecture from Columbia College Chicago, with a focus on art-based community development. Her research explores cultural preservation as a form of social justice, emphasizing the role of design in underrepresented communities' material and ecological contexts.

• Education:
• Bachelor of Science (Florida A&M University)
• MFA in Interior Architecture (Columbia College Chicago)

Her work integrates cultural heritage protection with social innovation, informed by a 2016 fellowship at the Amani Institute in Nairobi, Kenya. There, she developed initiatives such as cultural preservation projects in the Maasai Mara, arts education programs, and artisan collaboration in traditional art forms. Her current doctoral research at LSU examines the ecologies of material culture within marginalized communities.

As a professor, Jones prioritizes collaborative, inclusive, and supportive learning environments to inspire students in design's transformative potential. She is based at 415 Julian T. White Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA.