At the age of nine, an elementary school art teacher recognized that Dr. Mattie Lee Jones had potential and displayed a drawing of hers in the Indianapolis library. The self-taught emerging artist had not had the luxury of creating artwork full-time, focusing instead on attending college, which has resulted in her acquiring a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Education from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana; a Master’s Degree in K-12 Educational Administration from Ball State University; a K-12 Teacher Degree from the University of Indianapolis; and an Associate Degree in Marketing from lvyTech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Following her tenure as the Provost and Executive Vice President of a University in Indiana, Dr. Jones has dedicated herself to her artistic practice. Her paintings and drawings, which draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of culture and diversity as seen through the female gaze, have been featured in numerous prestigious exhibitions. These include ‘Meet The Artists’, the Annual FLAVA FRESH! Juried Exhibition Presentation Series Of Contemporary Fine Art, the First Lady Tea Art Auction in Carmel, and The Indiana Art Center. Currently, two of Dr. Jones’ art pieces are on display at the Indianapolis Crispus Attucks Museum.

Spanning over twenty-five years as a teacher, school principal, university administrator, and professor, Dr. Mattie Lee Jones’s multidisciplinary research and experience have motivated the artist to pen four books, including the exemplar “Disciplining Someone Else’s Children” A Guide for Childcare Providers.” Two of her books, “Nurture” and “What Did Your Parents Do to You,” are in the United States Library of Congress.