Instructor of English, College of Engineering
About Roger M. Jones
A professor of the Humanities Department in the College of Engineering, Roger M. Jones was dedicated to teaching his students the profound human value of literature. He served as a professor of English and had a particular interest in modern poetry, encouraging his students to write poetry. He often met with students outside of class hours to read, discuss, and write poetry. In addition to this work, he organized Friday afternoon faculty seminars for Humanities Department staff to discuss current issues as they related to current events and global impact.
Professor Jones graduate from Bates College in 1939. He continued on to pursue graduate studies at Columbia University, where he taught prior to joining the faculty at the University of Michigan, completing his master’s degree in 1947. After teaching at both Rutgers and Columbia, he joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1957. He was a member of several nationally recognized organizations, including the Modern Language Association, National Council of Teachers of English, American Association of University Professors, and the Michigan Academy of Arts and Sciences. He co-authored “From Troy to Tokyo: Classical Themes for Modern Poetry,” as well as several other publications. During his time at U-M, he served as chair of the College Curriculum Committee (1969-70) and on the Faculty Affairs Committee (1973-76).
Supported by a memorial fund, the Roger M. Jones Fellowship was established shortly after Professor Jones’ death in 1977, to honor his memory and to celebrate his conviction about the relevance of the humanities in a technological age. This annual Fellowship abroad provides a graduating UM engineering student the opportunity to study the humanities at a European university to broaden and deepen his or her previous education in the College of Engineering. The Fellowship includes living expenses, travel stipend, and tuition for one year.
The Roger M. Jones Poetry Contest was established by Professor Jones’ colleagues in 1977 to honor his memory and his commitment to teaching engineering students about poetry. The contest encourages engineering students to write poetry and to experience the pleasure of using their creative imaginations to speak to others. See a Michigan Daily article about past poetry contests here.
View the Poetry Contest Winners.