Featured image: Van Jones points to the crowd at the ENTICE – Evolving Narratives: Tennessee Initiative for Civic Engagement keynote speaker event on Feb. 18, 2026 in the Watkins Auditorium. (Pacer Photo / Darby Self)

CNN host and bestselling author Van Jones returned to the University of Tennessee at Martin on Feb. 17 to deliver a keynote address for the university’s ENTICE Series, urging students to lean on mentorship, stay resilient in uncertain times and approach civic disagreement with more humanity.

Jones, a UT Martin alumnus, framed the event as both a homecoming and a call to action, telling students that their futures are shaped not only by talent but by the support systems they build and the opportunities they choose to take seriously. He encouraged students to recognize what he described as UT Martin’s “springboard” —the people, resources and expectations that can launch them further than they might imagine, especially when paired with discipline and purpose.

After his speech, Jones participated in a Q&A with his mentor and longtime friend, Dr. Jerald Ogg. The conversation centered on the role mentors can play in changing a student’s sense of what is possible. Jones reflected on how mentors at UT Martin balanced compassion with high standards, creating an environment where students were supported but still expected to grow. He said that combination helped shape his approach to leadership, service and public communication, not only what to do with influence, but how to carry it with responsibility.

Throughout the program, Jones returned to a central theme: success depends less on someone’s starting point and more on the strength of their support system and work ethic. He credited his upbringing in Jackson, Tennessee, with shaping his mindset, saying the lessons he learned from his family taught him to persist even when he felt behind. He described being given the advice to “outwork” others, not as a slogan, but as a practical response to insecurity and pressure.

Jones also spoke candidly about the way ambition can become distorted by prestige. He described UT Martin as a place that invests in students’ growth rather than chasing status, calling it “the campus that cares” and arguing that a values-driven education can carry students “literally anywhere.” He emphasized that the quality of an education is often found in the people who are personally invested in students’ futures, professors who know their names, challenge their assumptions and follow up when they fall short.

That idea carried into moments after the program, when Jones spoke with students about a turning point from his own college experience. He recalled once wanting to transfer to Vanderbilt, believing a bigger name would automatically mean a better path. Jones said Ogg helped him reframe what success could look like at UT Martin and pushed him to see the value already in front of him.

“Ogg sat me down, and said, look, you go to Vanderbilt if you want to,” Jones said. “But the reality is that here, you have teachers who really want you to be successful. They’re not trying to get famous. They’re here trying to make sure students do well.”

Jones and Ogg discussed how mentorship works most effectively when it challenges self-doubt and self-pity without dismissing the reality of struggle. They emphasized accountability and belief as practical tools — not clichés — for navigating demanding environments, whether students build careers in business, public service, media or technology. Jones said mentors can be the difference between a student who simply survives college and a student who learns how to lead, communicate and serve others.

Looking outward, Jones told students they are entering what he called a “change of era,” driven by rapidly converging industries such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology. He argued that as technology accelerates, students will need more than technical skills to lead responsibly. They will need wisdom, values and empathy to keep the future “human and civilized,” especially as new tools reshape everything from jobs and education to media and politics.

Jones also warned that democracy is fragile and that time and attention are among the most valuable resources people have. He encouraged students to be intentional about what they consume, what they share and how they communicate. He argued that communicators, journalists and civic leaders can use technology to strengthen research and provide actionable information — but only if they are committed to ethics, accountability and service.

By the end of the night, Jones’ message to students was rooted in ownership: value the mentors who raise your standards, protect your time and attention, and approach the future with both ambition and responsibility. For Jones, returning to UT Martin was more than a milestone — it was a reminder of the people and principles that helped shape his path, and a challenge for today’s students to build their own “springboard” with intention.