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.