Susan Short Jones, JD, 1975
B.A., Denison University
J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law
Managing Counsel
Hospital Corporation of America
Atlanta
Susan Short Jones has forged a distinguished career in law, public service, and community leadership, marked by trailblazing accomplishments and an unwavering commitment to justice and equity.
Jones has spent the past two decades as a managed care attorney for Hospital Corporation of America, drawing on her decades of legal expertise in healthcare, public finance, real estate, and corporate law. Her impressive legal career spans senior roles including senior vice president and general counsel at Access Health Systems, Inc.; director of law for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; general counsel to the Tennessee Board of Regents; assistant attorney general for the State of Tennessee; and staff attorney for Legal Services of Middle Tennessee.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Susan has contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law School. She is a past president of both the Napier-Looby Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Foundation, and she currently serves on the Tennessee Code Commission, appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
A tireless advocate for women and youth, Jones is the founding president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Metropolitan Nashville chapter, which established the Susan Short Jones Emerging Leader Award in her honor. She has served as president of the Nashville Ballet and held leadership roles on the boards of the YWCA of Middle Tennessee, Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Science and Adventure Museum, United Way of Middle Tennessee, Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the HCA Foundation, and the HCA Hope Fund. She played a key role in launching Nashville’s Black Achievers chapter.
Susan’s contributions have earned her widespread recognition, including the Athena Award for outstanding leadership, the Phil Patton Community Service Award (HCA’s highest honor for service), and induction into the Academy of Women of Achievement.