Travel, art, and lifelong learning
Cayla Jones
Past Employee
Travel, art, and lifelong learning
Cayla Jones is a travel specialist on the CIRES administration team. Jones supports CIRES travelers by translating difficult-to-understand policies and procedures. The best advice she’s received comes in two parts:
- “Your worth is not in your productivity.”
- “You are a person before you are a student before you are an employee.”
When Jones was an undergraduate student, she traveled to Ireland to study art and archeology. She enjoyed making art throughout her trip. Jones considers herself a lifelong learner — and she loves discovering where CIRES people are traveling and what they are doing on their trips.
Humans of CIRES Q&A
Q: What is your role at CIRES?
I serve as a translator between travelers, policies, procedures, and disjoined programs/applications to ensure compliance. I also present suggestions for updates to our processes, forms, and web pages to improve clarity for travelers.
Q: What’s the most challenging part of your position?
The most challenging parts of my job are when there aren't direct translations and being aware of updates.
Q: Best advice someone’s given you?
The advice I've received over the years and most valued could be summarized in two statements. Your worth is not in your productivity. You are a person before you are a student before you are an employee.
Q: Favorite vacation you’ve ever taken?
Of the trips taken, I most enjoyed and left inspired by Ireland. The summer before my senior year in undergrad, I completed a study abroad trip to Ireland focused on art and archaeology. We started in Dublin and then visited and worked in cities around the island. I enjoyed eating, exploring, people-watching, and producing artwork on the trip.
“I am a lifelong learner, educator, and artist," said Cayla Jones.