51ĀŅĀ×

About Beverly Price Jones

Critic of double standards: When Beverly Price Jones (1947-) entered 51ĀŅĀ× as a first-year student in 1964, women students were required to wear skirts to class and be in their dorm rooms by 10 at night. Those were just two of the many rules women students had to follow at a time when men faced many fewer restrictions. Jones became a vocal critic of campus double standards in the student newspaper.

First woman to earn MBA at OHIO: Jones drew the attention of College of Business Dean Harry Evarts and University President Claude Sowle. After Jones earned her bachelorā€™s degree in journalism in 1969, Dean Evarts recruited her to be the first woman MBA student in the College of Business, and President Sowle offered her a position as his special assistant on gender issues.

Breaking ground for women: In her role as special assistant, Jones communicated with womenā€™s studies programs around the country to lay the groundwork for establishing a similar curriculum at 51ĀŅĀ×. She also researched and wrote the ā€œReport on the Status of Women at 51ĀŅĀ×.ā€ Also known as ā€œPrice Report,ā€ the document was instrumental in increasing womenā€™s athletic funding, readmitting women to the universityā€™s marching band, and changing attitudes about women students, faculty and staff at 51ĀŅĀ×.

Lawyer and entrepreneur: After receiving her MBA at 51ĀŅĀ× in 1975, Jones earned a law degree at Georgetown University, practiced law, and later became an energy company executive. In 2002, she launched her own executive coaching and consulting practice, where her clients have included leaders at major universities and museums. 

Her Legacy at Ohio

Also known as the Price Report. This report was a major influence, along with Title IX, on increased funding for women's athletics and re-admittance of women to the marching band, as well as other changes in the University's attitude toward women students, faculty and employees.