By Ashytn Nichols
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree in the spring of 2022, Jordan Jump is returning to San Diego State University to pursue her Master in Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology this fall. Jordan says the decision to continue her education at SDSU was an easy one. San Diego State University has always been her “dream school.” As both a mother and commuter student, she is grateful for the opportunity to study in such a highly regarded program close to her home. She references the rising rankings of the School of Public Health as a major draw to the graduate program.
While earning her undergraduate degree, Jordan was among the first “Student Success Advocates” for the School of Public Health. In this role, she advocated for resources to make the undergraduate public health program more inclusive, especially for transfer and nontraditional students. She assisted in launching a public health peer mentoring program and focused on creating positive and inclusive student experiences for those in the program.
In addition to her position as a Student Success Advocate, Jordan worked with Undergraduate Program Director Dr. Felner and Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Beck as a research assistant. In this capacity, she contributed to a scoping review to identify structural determinants of substance use disparities among LGBTQ+ youth. Jordan is highly regarded by faculty and staff as being a hard-working leader and role model to her colleagues and peers.
Looking forward to the upcoming year, Jordan is excited to expand her knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics. She’s excited to take a deeper dive into coding, data programs, and using epidemiological methods that will be helpful tools for her career in the future. Currently, she is working as a Graduate Student Assistant in the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch within the California Department of Public Health.
In the long term, she would like to continue working in the San Diego area at either the County or State level to continue health equity work in her hometown. Jordan states that “Data is power. I want to be a part of the driving force that helps communities measure change through research-driven methods.” She is committed to health equity and ensuring that communities have access to resources that reduce harm and promote health.