Member Biography


Dr. Deb Jordan

Dr. Deb Jordan is a professor emerita from the East Carolina University Department of Department of Recreation Sciences. Deb earned her B.S. in parks and recreation from Slippery Rock University, M.S. in parks and recreation administration from Western Illinois University, and her Re.D. in parks and recreation administration from Indiana University. As a professor, Deb taught at Iowa State University, Texas State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State University, and East Carolina University.

As an academic, Deb’s research focused on leadership, organized camping, and programming. She published three different textbooks, many book chapters and articles, and made multiple presentations locally, state-wide, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Over the years, Deb worked with multiple communities in creating park plans, evaluation systems, and needs assessments. She also served as a member of and visitor for the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions.

Deb also worked in the field as a practitioner serving as an outdoor educator, park naturalist, outdoor recreation director, camp director, and outdoor trip leader. In those various settings, Deb has worked with the general population, adjudicated youth, military-connected youth, teens, and all-women groups.

In terms of serving the parks and recreation profession, Deb has served on many committees and boards of directors for several state parks and recreation associations, the Association for Experiential Education, that National Park and Recreation Association, and the American Camp Association.