{"id":3010,"date":"2026-04-21T08:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/?p=3010"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:57:09","slug":"from-uncertainty-to-higher-education-the-impact-and-legacy-of-curel-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/2026\/04\/21\/from-uncertainty-to-higher-education-the-impact-and-legacy-of-curel-jones\/","title":{"rendered":"From uncertainty to higher education: The impact and legacy of Curel Jones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Curel Jones standing in Fletcher Hall\" class=\"wp-image-3015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-580x387.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/IMG_0249.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some students come to college with a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a first-generation college student from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, college was not always part of her story. In fact, at one point, it was not the plan at all. Like many students without a family history in higher education, the path forward was not clearly defined. After graduating high school, she found herself stepping into the workforce, working third shift and questioning what she wanted her future to look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, she made a decision that would change everything. She chose to come to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That choice did not just shape her education. It shaped her entire trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Curel initially arrived at UTC simply looking for something different, a place that felt like her own. What she found was more than a campus. She found a community, a challenge and eventually, a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/Curel_grad.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"142\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/Curel_grad.jpg\" alt=\"Curel Jones at undergraduate graduation at UTC\" class=\"wp-image-3016\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6611377855376109;width:180px;height:auto\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Her journey within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utc.edu\/gary-w-rollins-college-of-business\">Gary W. Rollins College of Business<\/a> did not follow a straight line. Originally planning to pursue a career in the medical field, her focus shifted when she took a business course in high school. Curel discovered a passion for creativity, communication and connection, ultimately leading her to pursue a degree in marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI liked medical, but when I started taking business classes, I realized I enjoyed it more,\u201d she said. \u201cI liked making flyers, planning events and just being creative. That\u2019s when I knew I wanted to go into marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But even then, the road was not easy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After her first year, Curel made the difficult decision to step away from college. Academically and personally, she knew she was not where she needed to be. For a time, she returned home, working long hours and feeling the weight of a routine that did not align with the life she envisioned for herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I was home, all I remember is clocking in and clocking out,\u201d she said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t really doing anything else, and I realized there had to be more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Encouraged by peers and motivated by her own reflection, she made the decision to return<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this time, she came back different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I came back, I knew I had to be different,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to learn how to study, how to not procrastinate and how to actually ask for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Determined to grow, Curel began to rebuild, not just her academic habits, but her mindset. She learned how to ask for help, manage her time and push herself beyond the version of who she had been before. What followed was a transformation that would define the rest of her college experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She served as Student Government Association treasurer, resident assistant, president of First in Fletcher, led community service projects and had campuswide involvement. Curel did not just join organizations, she elevated them. What started as a simple step into involvement turned into a commitment to leadership, service and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what makes her story stand out is not just the number of roles she held. It is how she approached them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leadership for Curel was never about titles. It was about people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a resident assistant, she learned how to navigate different perspectives, support students through challenges and truly listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had to learn how to understand different perspectives and really communicate with people,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can\u2019t just stay surface-level. You have to listen and figure out what\u2019s really going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As president of First in Fletcher, she found purpose in helping other first-generation students feel seen, supported and capable of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat one was the most meaningful to me,\u201d she said, \u201cbecause I got to actually help people through things I had already gone through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sense of connection became the foundation of her leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Balancing all of these responsibilities was not always easy, but Curel credits her success to one key lesson: she did not do it alone. Through teams, mentors and peers, she learned the importance of collaboration and, perhaps most importantly, the strength in asking for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI realized you can\u2019t take on life by yourself,\u201d she said. \u201cAsking for help is normal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a lesson that now defines the advice she gives to other students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those intimidated by getting involved, especially within the Rollins College of Business, her message is simple: what looks intimidating on the outside is often just unfamiliar. The opportunities are there, and the people within them are ready to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThings look intimidating from the outside, but once you go up and ask, people are willing to help,\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone has something they can teach you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond involvement, she emphasizes the importance of balance, encouraging students to prioritize their academics while still making space for experiences that will shape them beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGet involved, make good grades and don\u2019t wait until the last minute,\u201d she said. \u201cGive yourself the chance to actually enjoy your time here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-580x387.jpeg 580w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image-610x407.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2026\/04\/image.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Through it all, Curel\u2019s impact has been undeniable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it is mentoring students, building stronger organizations or simply showing up with positivity and intention, she has left a lasting mark on the UTC community. Her leadership has already inspired others to step into roles she once held, continuing a cycle of influence that extends far beyond her time on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked what legacy she hopes to leave behind, her answer was not about accomplishments. It was about character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hope my kindness spreads,\u201d she said. \u201cEven the smallest thing you do for someone can go a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking back, Jones said the moment she is most proud of is one that defined her entire journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m most proud that I kept going,\u201d she said. \u201cAfter everything, I came back and I didn\u2019t stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now pursuing her master\u2019s degree, she continues to build on that momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Curel\u2019s story is one of resilience, growth and purpose. It is about choosing to come back, choosing to improve and choosing to lead with intention every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not just a student highlight. It is a thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you, Curel, for your leadership, your resilience and your commitment to this community.<br>Thank you for setting an example of what it means to lead with both strength and kindness.<br>And thank you for the impact you have made, not only within the Rollins College of Business, but across the entire UTC campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your story is one that will continue to inspire long after you walk across the stage with a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some students come to college with a plan. As a first-generation college student from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, college was not always part of her story. In fact, at one point, it was not the plan at all. Like many students without a family history in higher education, the path forward was not clearly defined. After graduating&hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><span><a class=\"more-link button text\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/2026\/04\/21\/from-uncertainty-to-higher-education-the-impact-and-legacy-of-curel-jones\/\"><span>Continue Reading <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2039,"featured_media":3015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9268,120266,73105],"tags":[51,68299,116,57,101,4969,661],"class_list":{"0":"post-3010","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cob-students","8":"category-marketing","9":"category-master-of-business-administration","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-business-students","12":"tag-chattanooga","13":"tag-college-of-business","14":"tag-marketing","15":"tag-mba","16":"tag-students","17":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From uncertainty to higher education: The impact and legacy of Curel Jones - Gary W. 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