Jordan began her new duties July 1 after leaving a similar position at Mississippi University for Women.
The provost will serve as the university's chief academic officer, with broad delegated responsibility for the overall excellence and vitality of the university's academic life and programs.

Jordan has launched a “listening campaign,” visiting with faculty staff administrators and students to listen and learn.

“It is not unlike conducting academic research in that you begin with an idea of how things are, probe to deepen your understanding, then use what you’ve discovered to determine where to focus your efforts,” Jordan said. “The time spent meeting with campus constituents will be helpful as we move forward with our plans to improve upon our successes, provide the citizens of Georgia with exceptional educational experiences, and advance the university. I’m grateful to be part of this thrilling endeavor.”

Through the leadership of President Dorothy Leland, Georgia College has hosted a series of Stakeholder Conferences that have provided the university with strategic directions to support the university’s distinct mission, Jordan said.
“Working to achieve the goals and advance the Five Pillars of Distinction will be hard but exhilarating work,” she said. “Through the listening campaign process I hope to gain a sense of the common pulse of the institution.”

In addition to leading and managing the university’s Academic Affairs Division -- which includes its four academic schools (liberal arts & sciences, business, education, health sciences) – Jordan also will oversee the library, instructional and informational technology, off-site centers and programs, continuing education, sponsored research, enrollment management and other academic support functions.

Leland described Jordan as “committed to the Georgia College mission” after the new provost accepted the position in October.

“I am confident that she will provide creative, thoughtful and collaborative academic leadership as we seek to enhance our standing as one of the nation’s premier public liberal arts universities,” Leland said.

Prior to her position at Mississippi University for Women, Dr. Jordan served as Associate Provost at Murray State University in Kentucky, a promotion from her original post as Dean of the university’s College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Previously, she served at Eastern New Mexico University as the Dean of its College of Fine Arts, and as interim Dean of Fine Arts and Communications at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Dr. Jordan’s background also includes serving as Director of the Monsanto Gallery of Art at Lander University in South Carolina.

Jordan has received numerous awards and honors for her distinguished teaching, and in 2001, she was recognized by the Governor of Kentucky for her contribution to the arts. A prolific writer and researcher, her work has been widely published on topics ranging from the arts to enhancing academic leadership. In addition, she has been actively involved in serving dozens of professional and community organizations.

She is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she earned both a doctorate and masters degree in art history. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Alabama. Jordan also attended management development programs at both Harvard and Vanderbilt universities. Recently, Jordan was selected to participate in a year-long national leadership program, the 21st Century Leadership Institute, sponsored jointly by the American Academic Leadership Institute and American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Georgia College is a member institution of the University System of Georgia and is the state's designated public liberal arts university. It enrolls approximately 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students and is prominently ranked in a number of leading publications.