University Park, Pa. -- Martha Jordan will be the first director of Adult Learner Advocacy in Penn State Outreach. Jordan will work in collaboration with the Center for Adult Learner Services to provide coordination, advocacy and leadership to advance the recruitment and retention of adult learners throughout the University. She will work with all academic and administrative units to consider policies, programs, services and procedures to better serve adult learners.
"With close to 10,000 undergraduate adult students, this demographic is very important to the University, especially at Penn State campuses experiencing a decline in the number of local high school graduates," said Craig D. Weidemann, vice president for Outreach. "This very diverse student body brings to the University a wide variety of experiences and expectations. With her professional experience in admissions and knowledge of the campus, Martha Jordan can improve the campus milieu to be more welcoming to adult students."
Jordan spent the past year as an Administrative Fellow in Outreach; the fellowship program is an opportunity for faculty and staff to work with senior University officials. While a fellow, Jordan led the University's efforts to secure nearly $1 million in Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency grant funds for adults studying part time at Penn State. Jordan spent 15 years as the director of recruitment in the University's Undergraduate Admissions Office. Before joining Penn State she gained admissions and alumni experience at the University of Miami and the University of Alabama.