She was born in Montréal, Québec and received her BFA in painting and photography from Concordia University—studying painting with Guido Molinari and Yves Gaucher, and photography with the experimental photographer Suzanne Swibold. She received her MFA from York University where she received the prestigious Samual Sarrick Purchase Award for outstanding studio work. Jones then received her PhD from New York University in the area of art theory and criticism.