News

Sophia Jones, Committed to Cultural Competence

February 26, 2024
Sophia Jones, PhD, has been a Public Health part-time lecturer at the Bloustein School since 2016. She was recently featured on “Meet the People of Rutgers.”

Sophia Jones, Committed to Cultural Competence

Sophia Jones Jeff Arban/Rutgers University

The Basics

Title: Program coordinator (and adjunct professor at the Rutgers School of Planning and Public Policy) Unit: Rutgers Health – University Behavioral Health Care How Long Have You Worked at Rutgers: 17 years

What I Do

I am a program coordinator within the Rutgers Behavioral Health Care system and an adjunct professor at the Rutgers School of Planning and Public Policy. I develop curriculums focused on cultural competency, health disparities and diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging.

Favorite Memory

I have several great moments from my time with Rutgers. One was working within the Comprehensive Services on Aging (COPSA) program. Participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and shared wonderful stories about their lives. We were able to create small take-home projects for participants to share with their families. This was a great opportunity to capture the memories of each family and reconnect with their culture. From that moment I realized that culture and cultural competence was also a key component to addressing mental health. COPSA gave me my “aha” moment!

Fun Fact

I am a huge sports fan, especially basketball and football, and I love crime dramas and a good mystery movie.
Meet the People of Rutgers, Spring 2024 Professor Jones teaches the following courses for the Bloustein School:
  • Mental Health and Society
  • Health Disparities
  • Health and Public Policy

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