Charlotte, N.C. / July 14, 2020 – Johnson C. Smith University announces the appointment of Erna D. Perkins Jones as director of Facilities. Perkins Jones comes to JCSU from Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont in Charlotte. She will assume her role at JCSU on July 14.
Perkins Jones has built a strong reputation as a visionary leader in her field with 30 years of experience in facilities management, built environments, master planning and program management. She has spent 20 years mastering the built environments and construction industry where she has excelled at comprehensive compliance effort administration with quality assurance programs and methods, long-range planning, project improvement, and maintenance systems. She is an expert at guiding collaborations between internal and external stakeholders to align departmental strategies with the high-level goals of an organization.
JCSU President Clarence D. Armbrister said Perkins Jones was selected for this new role because her broad experience will be an asset as the University sharpens its focus on developing and maintaining the optimal physical environment for our students, faculty and staff. “I’m excited to welcome Mrs. Perkins Jones and look forward to her leadership,” said Armbrister.
“She arrives at an important time in the life of the University as we complete the latest update to our master plan; develop strategies to address deferred maintenance; and look to preserve our wonderful campus in the Historic West End of Charlotte,” Armbrister said. “The timing of her arrival is perfect as the area immediately surrounding JCSU is changing rapidly with construction of the streetcar rails for the CityLYNX Gold Line in the final phase and the city of Charlotte beginning construction of the new plaza at Five Points. Mrs. Perkins Jones has the knowledge and leadership skills to ensure JCSU is a valued partner with developers, city officials and neighborhood organizations as the Historic West End becomes one of Charlotte’s most desirable places to live and learn.”
In her previous role as director of Facilities Services for Goodwill’s Opportunity Campus, she oversaw campus assets and real estate, collaborative space design, long-range planning, construction management, facility maintenance and staff development. As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, she engendered a collaborative spirit through driving community partnership development and fostering a synergetic work environment. Her capital project expertise was instrumental in developing the corporate strategic plan for departmental and organizational expansion.
Before joining Goodwill in November 2016, Perkins Jones was the Midwestern and Northeastern Regional Director of Facilities for SSC Service Solutions - Compass Group, NA. Her span of responsibility comprised various educational, private and public organizations in New England, the Heartland and the South, including Tuskegee University, Becker College (Worcester, Massachusetts), Howard University, Chicago Public School System, and the District of Columbia Public Libraries and Schools.
As an urban planner and a business owner, Perkins Jones served in multiple capacities across the Washington, D.C., and Maryland region. She was accountable for a multi-annual government-funded program that synchronized the Department of Labor strategies for Job Corps campuses nationwide as senior planner with P.B. Dewberry Engineering. She also served as a lead planner for Charles County, Maryland’s Architectural Review Committee with responsibility for the drafting and adoption of the county’s 1997 Comprehensive Plan - Architectural and Site Design Guidelines and Standards.
Perkins Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architectural Design from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Science degree in City and Regional Planning from Morgan State University and is currently pursuing Certified Facility Manager® (CFM) credentials. She is a member of the Charlotte Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte volunteer, YMCA of Greater Charlotte volunteer and an avid gardener.
