Since Penn State Harrisburg’s creation in 1966, Clifford Jones was a tireless advocate on behalf of the college and its students.

That legacy is being honored through the Cliff Jones Program Fund for Good Government.

Fred Sembach, ’78 MPA and president of the Penn State Harrisburg Alumni Society, was instrumental in helping to create the fund “in honor of Cliff’s work and in an effort to continue his legacy of service, mentoring, and community involvement.” The fund will support programs for students pursuing careers in government or government-related industry. Initially, the fund will aid the
Harrisburg Semester, which the late Mr. Jones helped to create.

This program allows Penn State students to spend a summer internship in the state capital to become immersed in the leadership of public service organizations and agencies. Jones served as instructor for the college’s Harrisburg Semester internship classes and chaired its advisory committee. He was also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Public Affairs and a member of the college Board of Advisers.

In 2006, the Alumni Society honored Jones with its President’s Award.

Jones was involved in shaping Penn State Harrisburg’s history, from its early days as a former military installation to becoming a major university presence in the capital region. In 1965, the Department of Defense announced its intention to close Olmsted Air Force Base, one of the largest area employers. Gov. William Scranton consulted with Jones, then state Commerce Secretary, and Penn State president Eric Walker and the decision was made to create a University campus on the base.

Statewide, Jones had a long and distinguished career of public service in Pennsylvania, serving four governors in cabinet positions including Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor and Industry, and Secretary of Environmental Resources. He also has served as chairman and member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.