The J. Malcolm Jones Jr. Mentorship Program is a new program at Bolles that aims to connect students with alumni mentors while honoring the legacy of J. Malcolm Jones, a member of the Bolles Class of 1971 and a former Bolles Board of Trustees member.

The program was established after Jones’s passing six years ago, a generous gift from his family meant to celebrate his lifelong dedication to mentorship and service.

Jones was widely known throughout Jacksonville for both his successful career in banking and his commitment to guiding others. As Ms. Ellie Dalkin, the program’s coordinator, explained, “He was known as a mentor for a bunch of people in Jacksonville. A lot of Bolles alumni were mentored by him, and he was just an incredible individual.” 

After his death, the Jones family wanted to ensure that mentorship would remain a central value at Bolles. “When he passed away, the family graciously gave a gift to start this program,” Dalkin said, adding that the program exists “to build the program to honor his legacy.”

Although the mentorship program itself is new, the vision behind it is expansive. The goal is not only to connect students with alumni but also to help students better understand themselves and the world beyond Bolles. 

“The hope is that this program will kind of open up the world to students,” Dalkin explained, It gives students “a chance to learn from alumni’s paths and eventually from community members as well.”

One of the main ways the program accomplishes this is through career exposure. Alumni visit classrooms to speak about their professions, share their personal journeys, and answer student questions. These sessions give students insight into personal experiences and allow them to explore different fields in a meaningful way.

“It gives them the space to reflect on what their strengths are and what it might look like for them to go out into the world,” Dalkin said.

The program also prioritizes student voice when selecting speakers. “I want to hear from students who they want to hear from,” Dalkin said. She works closely with teachers and the Alumni Relations office to bring in speakers who align with student interests. In addition to classroom speakers, the program has introduced more informal mentorship opportunities, including a new event called Muffins and Mentors. This setting is intentionally designed to feel more conversational. “This is kind of like voluntary, and you’re sitting around the table, and you get the chance to go back and forth,” Dalkin explained.

The first Muffins and Mentors event featured alumni speaker Tim Miller, who spoke about his career in criminal defense. Dalkin described the event as a success, noting that the students asked really great questions. She added that the program plans to host one of these sessions every month for the remainder of the semester, continuing to build momentum and engagement.

In its first semester alone, the The J. Malcolm Jones Jr. Mentorship Program brought 17 alumni to campus through classroom speakers, lunch-and-learn events, and mentorship sessions, including Tim Miller, Emily Turner, and Dylan Shwartz. This strong start reflects the enthusiasm surrounding the program and the desire for meaningful alumni-student connections.

Looking ahead, the program plans to expand even further with the launch of the Jones Fellows Program. This cohort-based initiative will pair students one-on-one with alumni mentors for a longer-term experience. Participants will also attend retreats and complete personal assessments designed to help them identify their skills and strengths. 

“The whole goal of that program is to help you all as students kind of discover, almost like your personal vision,” she said. “What am I good at? What do I want to do? What are my interests? What are my values?”

For Dalkin, mentorship is not just a professional responsibility but a deeply personal value. “Part of the reason I took this job is that mentorship is so important to me,” she shared. Reflecting on her own experiences, she explained that she has had mentors at every stage of her life, starting in high school. One mentor of hers “just did life with me… she gave me perspective. She helped me kind of think about what I’m good at.” These relationships, she said, were transformative. “I’ve been changed for the better,” she noted,, “I want that for students.”

Ultimately, the J. Malcolm Jones Jr. Mentorship Program reflects both Jones’s legacy and a broader commitment to student growth. By fostering meaningful relationships, encouraging self-reflection, and providing real-world insight, the program aims to ensure that students leave Bolles not only academically prepared but also confident in who they are and where they hope to go.