Kathleen B. Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1949. Dr. Jones received her BA in Political Science from Brooklyn College (1970), and her Ph.D. in Political Science from the Graduate School of the City University of New York (1978) before moving to California in 1980. Jones has been academically and politically active in the fields of women’s studies, politics and feminist theory since 1975. She started teaching at San Diego State University (SDSU) in 1980 and became a professor of Women’s Studies at SDSU in 1991. Jones was formerly the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters (1995-1998) and Chair of the Department of Women’s Studies (1993-1996). She was also a visiting Associate Professor of Women's Studies and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley (UCB) in the Spring of 1990 and 1991. In the fall of 1997 Jones was awarded a STINT Fellowship (Swedish Foundation for International Research and Higher Education,) as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Örebro, Sweden. She was also awarded a STINT Grant for four-years of research and teaching collaboration with the University of Örebro from 1998 to 2002.

As an activist-scholar, Jones was a research consultant for the San Diego County Violence Against Women Project, 1995-1996 and was appointed to the City of San Diego Commission on the Status of Women as a representative on the San Diego Domestic Violence Council from 1995-1998. She also co-chaired the San Diego Violence against Women Task Force, 1996-97. Jones scholarly work includes extensive unpublished research on violent homicides in nineteenth century San Diego. In 1998, as Director of University Resources for the City Heights Pilot (Director, University-Wide Programs City Heights Education Pilot), Jones was involved in the public interview process for the annual production of the play Around the World in a Single Day (AWISD). This was a community-based venture produced in collaboration with SDSU’s Chicana/Chicano Studies Department, San Diego Repertory Theatre, and Hoover and Crawford High Schools. Along with a significant number of recorded community interviews, the completed projects consist of two plays recorded onto video (VHS): Around the World in a Single Day and Priceless.

As a scholar and public speaker, Jones has traveled nationally and internationally lecturing on such topics as women and leadership; gender and politics; women’s movement for social change; domestic violence; and related topics of contemporary political interest. In June 1999, Jones journeyed to South Africa as leader of a delegation organized by People to People Ambassador Programs, a U.S. based citizen-to-citizen exchange program. The delegation's purpose was to provide professionals with the opportunity to explore women's rights and women's struggles in the new South Africa. This venture culminated in the video and lecture "Women’s Rights, Women’s Struggles in the New South Africa," presented at William Paterson University, March, 2000.

Some of Jones’ published academic works include Compassionate Authority: Democracy and the Representation of Women (Routledge, 1993), The Political Interests of Gender (Sage, 1988), edited with Anna G. Jónasdóttir and Women Transforming Politics (New York University Press, 1997) edited with Cathy Cohen and Joan Tronto. She also co-edits the International Feminist Journal of Politics. Her most recent book is a memoir, Living Between Danger and Love, (Rutgers University Press, 2000) Jones was also the Co-Editor of International Feminist Journal of Politics.

Throughout her professional career, Jones has belonged to numerous professional organizations. These include the American Association of University Women; the American Political Science Association; the International Political Science Association; the International Studies Association; the International Women's Writing Guild; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Caucus, American Political Science Association, Program Chair, 1997-1998; the National Women's Studies Association; and the Women's Caucus, American Political Science Association.

Kathleen Jones is currently Professor Emerita of Women’s Studies at SDSU. Also as an ordained non-denominational minister, Jones provides marriage ceremonies through a service called Uncommon Ceremonies.