Title: Member of the Board of Managers
Company: Travis County Hospital District
Location: Manor, Texas, United States
Shannon W. Jones III, Member of the Board of Managers at Travis County Hospital District, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Public Health.
Mr. Jones is lauded for his professional expertise in public health, epidemiology and demographics, marked by leadership in higher education and community advocacy. For over five years, he has served as a member of the board of managers for the Travis County Hospital District in Austin, Texas, where he is responsible for engaging with community groups to gather input and make recommendations regarding the services they receive. Mr. Jones’s work focuses on administering programs that address the needs of communities of color in eastern Travis County, ensuring that educational, civic and religious organizations are included in the decision-making process. In this capacity, he has demonstrated expertise in understanding and addressing health disparities, developing program services and structures to improve outcomes for African American, Hispanic, Asian American, women, LGBTQIA and other marginalized populations.
Before becoming active in his current role, Mr. Jones enjoyed an impactful tenure as the director of the Department of Public Health for Travis County and the City of Austin, Texas, from 2006 to 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in securing project resources to enhance services for disparate populations. Notably, he advocated before the city council to obtain substantial funding for new programs benefiting underserved communities. Mr. Jones’s efforts resulted in significant improvements in public health infrastructure and access.
Between 1999 and 2006, Mr. Jones held the positions of deputy director and assistant director for the Department of Public Health for Travis County and the City of Austin, Texas. In these roles, he contributed to the development and implementation of public health initiatives targeting health disparities at both local and national levels.
Mr. Jones’s leadership extended beyond administrative duties as he collaborated with various states and communities across the country through his involvement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a member and chair of the advisory committee on the elimination of tuberculosis at the CDC, he secured critical funding to address tuberculosis disparities affecting African Americans in southern states and the Northeast.
Before transitioning into public health administration, Mr. Jones dedicated much of his career to higher education. He served in administrative roles at several Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide, where he championed academic excellence and institutional advancement. At an Atlanta university, he was a professor of public administration, imparting knowledge to future leaders in government and nonprofit sectors. At Lincoln University, Mr. Jones worked as an assistant to the president, was recognized as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and taught courses in political science.
Mr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed coursework toward a Doctor of Philosophy in management and policy, majoring in epidemiology and demographics, at the University of Texas.
An active member of several industry-related organizations in support of his career, Mr. Jones is affiliated with the American Association of Healthcare Executives and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He is also an associate of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Beyond his professional engagement, Mr. Jones is involved with numerous civic organizations, such as a research charity focused on sickle cell education. He has played a pivotal role in forming new divisions that address disparities within Austin’s health care landscape and is engaged with initiatives, like the Black Men’s Health Clinic, to improve health care access for African Americans both locally and nationally.
Throughout his professional journey, Mr. Jones has also been deeply committed to mentoring young men of color and others from marginalized backgrounds. He has guided many toward higher education and successful careers while encouraging them to make positive contributions within their communities. Even as a board member approaching retirement, Mr. Jones continues to mentor individuals, maintaining a supportive presence reminiscent of earlier stages in his career.
The values instilled by his parents, who were active participants in the Civil Rights Movement, and his grandfather’s leadership during that era have profoundly influenced Mr. Jones’s lifelong commitment to community service. He attributes much of his success to these family influences as well as to those he has mentored throughout his career.
Mr. Jones has been recognized by several prestigious organizations. He was honored as an Outstanding Community Service Member by a local chapter of the National Association for Colored People and was named Call to Action Winner by the Austin Business Journal for his work with the Alliance for African American Health. Mr. Jones was also recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for his contributions to national certification standards and acknowledged by a former director at the Centers for Disease Control for addressing community disparities.
As he looks forward to the future, Mr. Jones intends to continue advancing health care equity in Austin by collaborating with elected officials across Travis County, Austin and Houston to further improve hospital systems. He also plans to remain active as a public spokesperson for community issues and is considering pursuing consulting opportunities while supporting ongoing efforts toward community improvement.
Contact Mr. Jones: