Dr. Dianna Jones, BSW, MSW, EdD, B2B Consultant, is an Assistant Professor of Practice with 15 years of teaching experience. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Oklahoma, where she was recognized as “Most Changed and Future Change Agent.”

 

After serving as a family advocate, she transitioned into higher education as a Program Director and Adjunct Professor at East Texas University Commerce, balancing teaching, direct practice, student mentoring, and community practice for over a decade.

 

In Fall 2023, she accepted a full-time appointment as an Assistant Professor of Practice at UTA. Dr. Jones holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management and remains committed to advancing social work education, empowering future practitioners, and working for social change.

DSW, MSW, M.A., serves as an Assistant Professor of Practice at the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. Before joining the faculty full-time, she excelled as an MSW Academic Advisor III and Adjunct Assistant Professor, where she played a pivotal role in shaping a student-centered vision, fostering a strong, transdisciplinary educational experience. Through her leadership, teaching, and advising, Ann has helped guide countless students toward academic and professional success.

 

Prior to her work in academic advising, Ann contributed significantly to the Center for African American Studies (CAAS), where she held multiple roles, including program development, academic advising, serving as an adjunct assistant professor, logistical and technical coordination, and supervising Social Work interns. She also led the planning and execution of lectures, meetings, workshops, and conferences, supporting the center’s mission of community engagement and educational excellence.

 

Ann holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, a second master’s degree in Religion from Trevecca Nazarene University, as well as a Doctor of Social Work degree from Simmons University. In the School of Social Work, she teaches a range of courses, including Social Work Professionalism, Introduction to Social Work, Diverse Populations, Social Work Practice I, Foundations of Social Policy & Services, and others, bringing her extensive experience and passion for student development into the classroom.

Maria is a U.S. Air Force veteran, an Environmental Science student, an entrepreneur, and a systems thinker dedicated to building a more regenerative future. Her military service shaped her discipline, resilience, and ability to execute under pressure — qualities she now applies to leadership, environmental advocacy, and business. She studies water, food, and energy systems, and sustainable infrastructure, with a focus on how resources, power, and communities are connected. Her work centers on protecting the environment not just through awareness, but through practical system design that restores ecosystems and strengthens local economies.

 

As the founder of WRLDFit, Maria merges physical discipline with mental clarity and systems thinking. What began as fitness has evolved into a movement rooted in self-mastery, awareness, and collective elevation. She actively supports local farmers, studies supply chains, and documents real-world examples of regenerative systems to educate her audience. With a long-term vision of building sustainable infrastructure in vulnerable communities, including Puerto Rico, she is committed to creating systems that produce food sovereignty, economic resilience, and ecological balance — leaving the world more structured, conscious, and regenerative than she found it.