Student Affairs Staff Spotlight — Jason Krone
Get to know Jason Krone, Director, KU Recreation Services.
Q. How long have you worked in KU Student Affairs?
A. 27 Years
Q. Tell us a little about your role in KU Student Affairs. How do you make learning possible?
A. Along with the obvious of becoming more physically fit, healthy, and well, we create opportunities of release for students. This can be a physical release of tension or stress, a mental release of escaping the complexities of life, or even a social release of being active with friends. When students allow themselves these opportunities of release, they can more easily focus on learning, classes and being successful!
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone just starting in KU Student Affairs?
A. Make your own path! Find a way that works best for you to develop professionally by seeking out advice and connection from others. Be intentional and don't depend on others to create and pave that path for you. Find a way to develop skills you need for your next step in a way that can enhance or benefit your current position and department.
Q. What’s a fun fact most colleagues don’t know about you?
A. I spend my Friday nights in the fall working on the "chain gang" at Bonner Springs High School home football games! For those that don't know what this is, our group of four guys keep the yardage markers for first downs in the game. You have the two posts connected by a 10-yard chain measuring first downs along with a single post that tells you what down it is. We're close to the action, which I love!
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. Number one is spending time with family! Being a grandparent is the best! I love to travel and have really caught the cruising bug and am happy to share my experiences with the ins and outs of cruising on a budget. I love to fly fish but don't get to do it nearly as often as I would like. I like to watch college football and basketball, pro football, and my favorite of all...high level track and field meets!
Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you? Please share.
A. This came from my father when I seemed frustrated with everything: "Pick your battles". I have evolved how I use this now to mean that I need to be strategic with what, when, and how I stand strong. Everything can't be a fight, nor can I push back on everything that I either don't agree with or would do in a different way. This means I need to understand my own tolerance levels and the tolerance levels of Recreation Services.
Q. What’s your favorite spot on campus?
A. The Campanile's carillon keyboard. One year on a staff retreat, we took a tour of the Campanile and were able to go up into it and play (I use that term very loosely) the carillon! By far my favorite thing I have ever done at KU!
Q. What is your favorite local restaurant or hidden gem in Lawrence?
A. Little Saigon Café
Q. What’s your dream travel destination?
A. Egypt to see the pyramids and spend days in the new Grand Egyptian Museum!
Q. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
A. I've never thought of this, but I can tell you the song that gives me the most joy and I play when I need a pick-me-up: “Some Kind of Wonderful” by Grand Funk Railroad. I dare you to not be happy when listening to it!
Q. Who’s your biggest supporter/cheerleader, or who do you got for advice?
A. My wife, Lisa is my biggest supporter, cheerleader and also confidant. Some days we spend hours talking about what happened that day. For advice, it depends on what advice I am seeking. Professionally, it is often the Big 12 campus rec directors. Personally, I have a group of four buddies from high school that we bounce ideas off of each other all the time.
Q. What do you hope students and colleagues remember about your interactions?
A. I hope they come away from interactions with me believing it was honest, genuine, transparent, and empathetic.
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