Kwanza Jones has been called a lot of things in her life: music artist, lawyer, CEO, venture capitalist, and, of course, role model for young women. Jones started her singing career after performing and winning Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater while still in college. She went on to record multiple music albums, with several of her songs hitting the top ten on Billboard Magazine’s dance/electronic music charts. After completing her law degree, she launched SUPERCHARGED, a media company that specializes in self-development and hosts a community-driven platform. In addition, Jones previously taught cross-cultural negotiations at New York University and was a mediator for the New York City Civil Court. Furthermore, Jones’ philanthropy extends beyond the SUPERCHARGED Initiative, as she also serves on numerous boards, including the board of directors for the Susan G. Komen organization and the board of trustees of Bennett College, a historically black liberal arts college for women. In 1995, Jones won the Miss Baltimore title.
Coming from a modest background, Jones made her way to Princeton at a time when the school was far less diverse than it is today. At Princeton, she gained a reputation as a high achiever, both as a letter-winner in track and as a student of international affairs. It was her time spent outside of the classroom, though, that arguably had the biggest impact on the young woman's future. Namely, Jones was starting to get serious about music. As a student, she had a chance meeting with music legend Quincy Jones, which piqued her interest in music as a profession. Jones was already performing in many bars and small venues off campus. She was also a member of an acapella group, a gospel choir, and an electronica band. In fact, Jones' debut album Naked was conceived while she was still attending Princeton University. In 1993, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.
Since leaving, Jones has remained an ardent supporter of her alma mater and regularly returns for public events, such as class reunions and conferences, including the 2018 She Roars conference, which celebrates the accomplishments of women in the Princeton community. It was in 2019, however, that Jones made her most notable return to campus. Jones, along with her husband, announced that she was giving Princeton a $20 million contribution in support of "diversity, equity, and inclusion." Notably, this is the largest gift from underrepresented people of color in the University’s 274-year history. Meanwhile, in recognition of Jones' philanthropy and leadership, the University announced that it would name one of its new dormitories after Jones, ensuring that her legacy of service and charity will be ingrained in the Princeton campus for a very long time.