FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 17, 2017
Gov. Hutchinson Appoints Yessica Jones
Director of DIS
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced the appointment of Yessica Jones as the Director of the Department of Information Systems (DIS). Jones served as Deputy Director of DIS before being named Interim Director after the departure of Mark Myers in November of last year.
Governor Hutchinson released the following statement:
“I am pleased to announce Yessica Jones as the Director of the Department of Information Systems. Yessica’s leadership and knowledge of the technology sector has made her a tremendous asset to DIS over the last year, and I look forward to working with her as we continue to improve our state’s digital services. I am confident that she will lead the agency with vision and innovation to meet the demands of the rapidly-evolving technology industry.”
Yessica Jones released the following statement:
“I am honored to be selected by Governor Hutchinson as the permanent director of DIS. I am excited about the future of the agency and what we are going to achieve on behalf of our colleagues in the public sector and the citizens of Arkansas. Each day, I am grateful to work with such a hard-working, dedicated staff of employees. Their support has helped guide my success throughout the months I have served as acting director. I have pledged to work side-by-side with employees in fulfilling the commitments we make to our customers with attention to quality and service.”
Jones is a member of the Open Data and Transparency Task Force, Arkansas Homeland Security Executive Committee, Arkansas Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Board, Information Network of Arkansas (INA) Board and Arkansas Interoperable Communications Executive Committee.
In 2016, Jones was the recipient of a StateScoop Top 50 Up and Comer Award, and in 2017, StateScoop named her as one of its Top Women in Technology. Prior to joining DIS, Jones was an assistant professor in Harding University’s Department of Management Information Systems, where she taught data management, database design and business applications programming. She has also served as a solutions developer for Little Rock-based Acxiom and as a database developer for Pennzoil. Jones also served as Gov. Hutchinson’s outreach liaison to the Hispanic community.
Jones holds a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.B.A. from Harding University.
###
