Jona is the Director of Planned and Major Gifts at Dakota State University in Madison, SD, a role she took on in 2018. Prior to that, she was Director of Alumni Relations at Dakota State University where she developed programs to maintain lifelong interactions with the university’s alumni. As a member of the University’s Advancement team since 1995, Jona has served in various roles including leading the annual fund and several years as director of marketing and public relations. She was editor of the Dakota State Magazine and was executive director of the DSU Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is currently the President of the Lake County Historical Society Board and is current chair of a successful capital campaign at her church. Jona is a graduate of Black Hills State University.