July 28, 2026

From Scholar to Director: Inside the Ron Brown Scholar Program with Kiya Jones

What was is like to become a Ron Brown Scholar and how does this program continue to support it's alumni? What is the Ron Brown Scholar Program's stance on AI use? How can students best present themselves as an applicant? Kiya Jones answers all these questions and much more!

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About the episode

In this episode, Kiya Jones, Director of the Guided Pathway Support Program at the Ron Brown Scholar Program, opens by sharing her own remarkable journey as a first-generation college student who became a Ron Brown Scholar herself. Her story begins with a brochure handed over on a whim and ends with a life-changing moment in Washington D.C.. Kiya brings a uniquely personal perspective to her work, having experienced firsthand what it means to navigate the college and scholarship process without a roadmap, and she explains what truly sets the Ron Brown Scholar Program apart: not just the scholarship dollars, but the decades of genuine, scholar-centered support that follows students from senior year of high school well into their careers.

Kiya then pulls back the curtain on what the Ron Brown Scholar Program is actually looking for in applicants, and it may surprise students who think it comes down to GPA and test scores. She shares stories of scholars who won despite imperfect transcripts, limited extracurricular access, or unconventional paths, because they demonstrated the core ethos of the program: using their time and talents to uplift others. Kiya also offers candid advice on AI in scholarship applications, why authentic and even imperfect essays consistently outperform polished but soulless ones, and how students can overcome the fear of applying to highly selective scholarships.

Mentioned in this episode

Host

Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut.Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Guest

Kiya Jones

Kiya Jones serves as the director for the Guided Pathway Support Program, where she is passionate about expanding college access and helping students from underserved communities achieve their higher education goals. A 1999 Ron Brown Scholar, Kiya earned her B.A. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she focused on poverty law and received multiple public interest honors. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to advancing educational opportunity, social justice, and equity through public service, community advocacy, and student support. She currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.