Ryan Jones named editor of Penn Stater magazine

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After a national search, the Penn State Alumni Association has announced that the next editor of Penn Stater magazine will be Ryan Jones, a 1995 Penn State graduate. The Penn Stater is a benefit of membership in the Penn State Alumni Association — the nation’s largest dues-paying alumni association, with more than 173,000 members.

Jones begins his appointment Oct. 1. He fills the role occupied for 22 years by Tina Hay, a 1983 Penn State graduate, who will enter a phased retirement with the Alumni Association this fall.

“Through the search, it became clear that we had a world-class talent right here on the Penn Stater staff in Ryan Jones,” said Alumni Association CEO Paul J. Clifford. “His leadership over the past decade-plus on the magazine team, coupled with his experience at a premier national sports magazine, offers a unique blend of skills that will keep the Penn Stater as one of the top collegiate magazines in the world.”

In nearly 12 years as a member of the Penn Stater staff, Jones has held the positions of senior editor (2007 to 2016) and deputy editor (2016 to 2018). In addition to his editorial duties, he has served as the online editor of The Football Letter and provided social media support at Alumni Association pep rally/tailgates and other events since 2014.

Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications; as an undergraduate, he served as sports editor of The Daily Collegian. Among his many contributions to the Alumni Association during his tenure are leadership of Penn Stater magazine’s recent editorial redesign and his role in the publication’s frank coverage of the Sandusky scandal — including an entire issue devoted to the crisis and numerous stories in subsequent issues — which earned more than two dozen national honors, including a gold medal from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

“As a writer and editor, I hate settling for clichés, but this really is an incredible honor — and a humbling one,” Jones said. “I’ve been so lucky to work with and learn from Tina Hay, whose reputation as one of the sharpest editors in our industry is entirely deserved. Following Tina will be a daunting task, but I’m excited for the challenge.”

Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2007, Jones was the editor-in-chief at Slam, a widely regarded newsstand basketball magazine. He began his career in the newspaper world at The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) and The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey).

About the Penn State Alumni Association

The Penn State Alumni Association connects alumni to the University and to each other; provides valuable benefits to members; and supports the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. More information about the Alumni Association is available at alumni.psu.edu.