The University of Oklahoma has officially dedicated the Jones Family Welcome Center, giving one of its oldest buildings new life as a hub for welcoming future generations of students and the front door to the university. Fueled by a transformative $15 million gift from OU alumni and longtime supporters Jonny and Brenda Jones, the renovated and expanded Jacobson Hall combines the university’s rich history with modern enhancements.
Originally built in 1919, Jacobson Hall is home to both the Welcome Center and the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. The 27,300-square-foot structure has been carefully renovated to preserve its historic character while introducing greater functionality for today’s campus needs. The expansion includes a 194-seat theater, meeting rooms where admissions counselors can visit with students and supporters, and additional space for information sessions and special recruitment events. In a first for campus architecture, the new addition, angled at 45 degrees, offers views of the North Oval, Evans Hall and the Clock Tower through the windows of the new Mark and Catherine Cohen Auditorium and the second-floor presentation room. Renovation work began in 2023 and was completed over the summer.
“The Jones Family Welcome Center is where the OU story begins for so many students and families,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Thanks to the generosity of people like Jonny and Brenda Jones, Mark and Cathy Cohen and Matt and Monica McGraw—as well as significant others—this historic building now provides a dynamic space for engaging with our university and exploring all that OU has to offer.”
Longtime OU supporters, Jonny and Brenda Jones serve as co-chairs for “Lead On: The University of Oklahoma’s Campaign for the Future.” The campaign has raised more than $1.5 billion toward its $2 billion goal. The Jones family has fourth-generation ties to OU. In fact, Jonny’s grandfather, Alva Vance Jones, enrolled at the university the same year Jacobson Hall was built.
Serving as the university’s revitalized front door, the Jones Family Welcome Center hosts more than 700 campus tours annually, each designed to be a personalized experience for prospective students and their families. With a 1:16 tour guide-to-guest ratio, these tours offer an intimate and engaging glimpse into campus life. Altogether, these hundreds of tours bring over 20,000 visitors to campus each year, making the Welcome Center a vital gateway to OU. This year, it reopens just in time to greet the record-breaking Class of 2029, the largest freshman class in state history.
“With the renovation, the OU Family thoughtfully came together to create a space that is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional, intentional, and reflective of OU hospitality,” said Jeff Blahnik, vice president for Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer. “The Admissions and Recruitment team has worked very intentionally to create the Crimson Hospitality that has led to record enrollment. We are excited that the Jones Family Welcome Center now matches the level of effort put forward by the team, and we’re so grateful to Jonny and Brenda for their generous support and partnership.”
Jonny and Brenda Jones’s $15 million gift came from a belief that, to maintain future success, the university must remain well positioned to recruit students who want to make a difference. Their investment directly aligns with Pillar 2 of OU’s “Lead On, University: The Next Phase” Strategic Plan, which focuses on empowering students for a life of success, meaning and impact. The Jones family has supported multiple campus initiatives, including Athletics Department capital needs, the Sarkeys Energy Center, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the President’s Associates program.
For more information or to schedule a campus tour, visit ou.edu/admissions/visit.
During visits, guests will discover murals and art created by Tori Willis, senior designer for Enrollment Management Communications and Marketing. Read what inspired Tori to bring a piece of history to life!
