May 22, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

A native of Columbia, Rebecca Jordan attended USC for both her bachelor’s (psychology) and master’s (Master of Public Health) degrees. She’s devoted the past two decades to serving non-profit and health sectors, returning to her alma mater in March of this year to serve as the Arnold School’s Lead Senior Director of Development.

After graduating with her master’s degree in 1991, Jordan spent a few years working with insurance companies and a major hospital system. As part of this work, she was serving on the Board of Directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation when the Board Chair recruited her to take on the role of Executive Director for the Foundation. Jordan has been committed to the non-profit world ever since.

“I feel strongly that the education I received at USC gave me the foundation to succeed in my career,” she says of her time as a student in what is now known as the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. “Public health has always been a part of my career working for non-profit health organizations.”

After six years with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Jordan left to help launch and lead the South Carolina Chapter of The ALS Association, where she spent eight years. The next decade (2015-2025) saw Jordan as the Executive Director for the American Red Cross of Central South Carolina.

“Rebecca Jordan has had an impressive career, serving as executive director for leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving health across the state,” says Dean Tara Sabo-Attwood. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Jordan back to the Arnold School, where she will focus on building and strengthening authentic, lasting relationships with stakeholders – helping us expand our impact on the health of South Carolinians and beyond.”

Jordan was excited to have the opportunity to return to USC for the final phase of her career and proud to be able to give back to the university and the Arnold School. She also loves seeing the changes that have taken place on campus and throughout the city over the course of growing up in Columbia and working throughout the state. The growth of the school, university and city has been fun for her to see, and the presence of faculty, staff and students bring energy and pride to the environment.

As the Lead Senior Director of Development, Jordan’s primary responsibility is to raise money for the Arnold School and in support of the Dean’s initiatives. Though still new to the role, she has been making the rounds to meet members of the Arnold School and development colleagues in other academic units to better understand how they can best work together.

“I love the people that I have met,” Jordan says of her return to USC. “It is rewarding to know that what I do impacts students that will go on to have remarkable careers. I also love that I get to share the amazing research that is being conducted here at the Arnold School of Public Health and throughout the university. It truly is transformational and lifesaving work.”

The Staff Spotlight Series is sponsored by the Arnold School's Office of Access and Collective Engagement.