Michael B. Jones, M.D., Pledges $1 Million to Create Endowed Chair in Art at UNO

Highlights:

• Endowed chairs represent a permanent investment in the university and assist in recruiting and retaining top faculty.
• Amy Millicent Morris, Director of the School of the Arts and Professor of Art History, will be named the inaugural recipient.

Art enthusiast Michael B. Jones, M.D., has pledged $1 million to establish the Michael Bruce Jones, M.D., Chair in the School of the Arts at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

Pending approval of the University of Nebraska, Amy Millicent Morris, Director of the School of the Arts and Professor of Art History, will be named the inaugural recipient.

“Art defines what it means to be human in many ways,” Dr. Jones said. “Humanities bring joy to life. Art is just one of those, but one that I find most enriching and exciting. I think that art is a way of defining our humanity.”

Dr. Jones pledged the gift through the University of Nebraska Foundation. The chair will support a salary stipend; funds may also be used to support scholarly research and creative activities.

Amy Morris received a Master of Arts in art history from Kent State University before earning a doctorate at Indiana University, specializing in Northern Renaissance art. She began teaching at UNO in 2012 before becoming Director of the School of the Arts in 2022.

“The generosity of Dr. Jones’ gift cannot and should not be understated,” said Michael L. Hilt, dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. “Our ability to attract and keep quality faculty is a driving point for student recruitment, especially in the arts. I want to personally thank Dr. Jones for a gift that will brighten the future of our arts programs along with current and future arts students."

For the past four decades, Dr. Jones has served as a gastroenterologist in Omaha. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in 1972 and earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1975. Dr. Jones helped to establish Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates PC in 2005.

He is also an avid art enthusiast. His parents were friends with the late Omaha-based artist Bill Hammon, which led Dr. Jones to donate hundreds of pieces of Hammon’s art owned by a relative to UNO. Through conversations with Morris about how UNO could best utilize the Hammon collection, Dr. Jones decided to invest in the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media by creating the endowed chair in the School of the Arts.

Endowed chairs represent a permanent investment in the university and assist in recruiting and retaining top faculty. The endowed art chair will help to ensure the future vibrancy of UNO’s art history program.

“The future of the arts in Nebraska and across the region depends on the success of our students,” Morris said. “By elevating the profile of art and art history and providing students with innovative concentrations and opportunities to exhibit, intern, study abroad and engage with the regional art community, they will have the necessary tools and skills to pursue a career in the arts.”

Dr. Jones said he enjoys visiting art museums and galleries. He also attends UNO student shows because he likes to support up-and-coming artists.

“I’m very privileged to be able to make a donation, and I hope that other like-minded people come together to strengthen the humanities at UNO since this is our city’s university,” he said. “Amy Millicent Morris gives our students the opportunity to really have a wonderful exposure to art history. As I’ve continued to learn and study, art brings more joy to my life than any other academic pursuit.”

The gift supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to encourage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state.