Women of Influence: Dorothy (Benjamin) Jones '89, E '97

Dorothy (Benjamin) Jones is the director of college counseling at the Bay School of San Francisco. She first graduated from Saint Mary’s in 1989 and received her master’s in educational leadership in 1997, preparing her to enter the world of high school counseling. Jones served as the dean of admissions at SMC for 12 years and was at the College for 15 years. As the dean, Jones was the primary driver in shaping the undergraduate population of the College. Under her leadership, Saint Mary’s experienced broad increases in ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. She says the best advice she ever got was “Always, always listen to your inner voice. It will never mislead you.”

Jones has great expectations for the future of women at Saint Mary’s and gives young women today this advice: “You can give to others and still give to yourself. The two are not mutually exclusive.”

See other Women of Influence

40 Years/One Night, a "Gaela" celebration recognizing the 40 Influential Women of Saint Mary's, will be held on Sat., Nov. 6 in the Soda Center. It begins with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner, a raffle and a silent auction. The keynote speaker will be Kristine Carlson, co-author of the Don't Sweat the Small Stuff series. Go to stmarys-ca.edu/womeninphil for tickets and more information.