By Anderson Colemon/south news editor
From a young age, Peter Jordan knew he wanted to strive for greatness. That drive led to his current status as president of South Campus.
Growing up, Jordan always helped out in his community. He remembers always being the first selected in after-church activities.
Jordan said during his teenage and college years, he was chosen for leadership roles whether it was as a Sunday school teacher or as a residence hall director during college.
“These roles helped shape my passion for teaching and learning and my career path,” he said. “I had the opportunity to experience how decisions were made and to participate in the process.”
The positions he took on would lead to the role he fills today, but to accomplish this, Jordan realized that an education was a major factor in his life.
“My aspiration of being a college president evolved as my education evolved,” he said.
His first year as South Campus president brought success in a number of different areas, particularly among developmental students, Jordan said.
“I’m very proud of the work we have done on the campus by expanding programs that support college success,” he said.
Jordan said he plans to enhance programs by expanding student access in popular programs such as automotive.
“I really want to focus on putting in place the kind of structure that will support students, so the work that we are doing in terms of developmental education and the success we are having there is working toward what I want to see more of on this campus,” he said.
In the future, however, Jordan wants to ensure that most students graduate. He wants to see the community expand with college graduates holding a diploma or certificate in their hands.
“I can see our graduation rate improving and the number of students we are putting out there in the community,” he said.
Jordan wants students to have the same benefits his education gave him.
“I know how it changed my life and my family’s life,” he said. “I’m grateful every day that I can do something to help improve access and outcome for our students.”
He said students should set clear goals and commit to them.
“Students need to document those goals, and they need to align those resources, like time and money to support those goals,” he said. “So if they have those options to do something to support their completion of a certificate or degree, the choice should be clear if they are committed to their goals.”
South Campus counselor Sandra Johnson said Jordan is a man of action, and he says what he means and means what he says.
“One of the positive things of Jordan is that he is an advocate for the campus. He looks at the needs and puts into action his plans,” she said. “He’s providing a stronger security system for the campus, and in our department, he is quickly moving on restoring the staff.”
Johnson said Jordan has quickly surveyed the needs of the campus and has pushed forward in providing those needs including additional staffing in the counseling center.
Senior office assistant LaVitta Williams said Jordan is making good moves, and it’s a fast process.
“He [Jordan] is streamlining the communication between the administrators and faculty by upgrading the website of TCC,” she said. “The image of the campus is changing the way the landscape of the campus. He is utilizing the plants that are originally grown from throughout the Texas area, so in that way, he is upgrading the landscape of the campus.”
