Late Nursing Professor Honored for Generosity, Philanthropy
January 9, 2025
Late Nursing Professor Honored by TBR
A late Walters State professor was honored for her financial support of Walters State
Community College with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.
Cris Perkins, associate vice chancellor of external affairs at the Tennessee Board
of Regents, presented the award to Sandra Wells, the executor of Kathleen Cofer Jones
estate.
Jones was an associate professor of nursing at Walters State from 2000-2021. She served
as a flight nurse in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years before joining the college. She
retired in May 2021 and died unexpectantly one month later.
“Kathleen poured her knowledge and love on her students,” Perkins said in presenting
the award. “She stayed in contact with many former students and continued to offer
encouragement and wisdom. She served as a mentor to many who went on to complete graduate
work.”
Jones not only supported students with her experience and teaching skills, she also
supported the Walters State Foundation with monthly gifts for eleven years. In her
will, she left the college $72,000 to endow a nursing scholarship.
“Those funds have been used to establish the Kathleen Cofer Jones Fundamentals of
Nursing Scholarship,” said Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters State. “Through this
generous gift, this beloved professor will continue to encourage nurses. We are grateful
for both the financial support and the many hours Kathleen devoted to our students
and alumni.”
For more information about the Walters State Foundation, contact Chris Cates, assistant
vice president for College Advancement at 423-585-2618.