SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor Dr. Mike Jones was selected to the Inaugural All-Southern Conference Faculty Team the league office announced Monday.
 
Dr. Jones, earned his PH.D. in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. State in 1973 and began his career at Chattanooga two years later. From 1979-2000, he was the director of freshman engineering. In 2000 he was named the director of mechanical, chemical, civil, environmental and industrial engineering and held that position until 2009.
 
In 2008, Dr. Jones was awarded Outstanding Faculty Advisor and received the Outstanding Engineering Teacher Award six times while being named the Cole Outstanding Teacher in 1986 and 1988.
 
A longtime supporter of Chattanooga athletics, Dr. Jones has served as UTC's faculty athletics representative and the UTC Athletics Board chair. He was a member of the University Athletics Committee and as subcommittee chair of the NCAA Institutional Self-Study Committee. Jones has also been a volunteer assistant with the Mocs' track and cross country teams since 1988 and team photographer.
 
The Southern Conference recognized representatives from all 10 member schools. The selection was left up to each institution's discretion, the recipients all share some of these common characteristics - demonstrated service to the institution, proven record of high scholastic achievement among students, recognition for a research project or written academic piece; and contributions to campus life and the local community.
 
The Citadel's Dr. Scott Buchanan, ETSU's Dr. Randy Byington, Furman's Dr. J. Aaron Simmons, Mercer's Dr. Adam Kiefer, UNCG's Dr. Nicholas Oberlies, Samford's Dr. Elizabeth Dobbins, Chattanooga's Dr. Michael Jones, VMI's Col. James Turner, Western Carolina's Dr. Hollye Moss and Wofford's Dr. Carol Wilson comprise the first all-league faculty team.
 
Each member of the All-SoCon Faculty Team will be presented a plaque and honored at a home basketball game at his or her institution.