Joseph Jones serves as chief of staff to the president of Des Moines University. He was previously the executive director for The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement.
Joseph is a graduate of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and earned his BBA in economics from Loyola University New Orleans. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree in public policy and a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership and Administration from Drake University. In 2014, he was presented Drake’s Distinguished MPA Alumnus Award. He is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and is also a Fellow of the Truman National Security Project. Joseph also received his Ph.D. from Drake where his research focused on the intersection of civics, experiential learning, and access.
In 2018, he was the Executive in Residence at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health and also serves on the faculty of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute of Organizational Management.
Priorities
Joseph’s priorities for the City of Windsor Heights include Community Growth, Economic Vitality, and Regional Collaboration. He wants to focus on promoting civil discussion; creating a welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers, patrons, and residents; and ensuring that citizens are involved with the city’s decision-making process and agenda.
Joseph also wants to prioritize supporting small businesses in the community, creating opportunities to incentivize homeowners' property and home improvements, improving our city’s infrastructure by focusing on comprehensive repair, and working to improve metro-wide relationships and projects.
Volunteer Work
Joseph serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and UnityPoint Health Des Moines. Joseph chairs the board of trustees of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and is vice chairman of the board of the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation. He is a graduate of Leadership Iowa and was named to the Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” Class of 2009. In 2019, Joseph was voted the most influential Forty Under 40 honoree from the 2009 class, noted as having the biggest positive effect on the community. He was subsequently named the Forty Under Forty Alumni of the Year in 2022. In 2020 the Central Iowa Chapter of PRSA presented him with the Outstanding Iowa Advocate award and in 2021 he was presented with the Dr. Judith Conlin Welcoming the World Award from the Iowa International Center. He is currently an active volunteer at his church.
Joseph has also been an active member of the Windsor Heights community for several years. He has previously served on the Board of Adjustment and represented Windsor Heights on the Des Moines Sister Cities Commission. Prior to becoming a member of City Council, Joseph served on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Personal Life
Joseph is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and engaging in international citizen diplomacy and governance. Although Joseph has visited dozens of countries and all 50 states, he is most proud of seeing all of Iowa’s 99 counties. He follows national security issues closely and finds time to spend with his Newfie, Toula Marie, and his chickens.
Term
Councilmember Joseph Jones' term expires January 2026.