Jenny Jordan

Bio

Jenny Jordan is a Navy 4-H Youth Program Specialist in the Department of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences of North Carolina State University. A native of Athens, Georgia, she received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education at the University of Georgia, a Master of Education in Health and Physical Education from Georgia College and State University, and her Specialist in Education in Adult Education from UGA. Jenny began her work with the Navy 4-H partnership in November of 2017. As a 4-H youth program specialist supporting, advising, and assisting Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) Headquarters (HQ), she is responsible for developing and disseminating information supporting youth development and 4-H initiatives navy-wide. Jenny creates and shares resources, teaching aids, and lesson plans for Navy CYP field staff to use in training other staff, volunteers, parents, and youth while also supporting Extension educators in working with military-connected youth. During her time with the Navy 4-H partnership, she has provided training for more than 4,000 navy 4-H field staff and Extension professionals during onsite training, webinars, and conferences and presentations.

Before her work with the Navy 4-H partnership, Jenny served for more than thirty years with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, beginning as a 4-H program assistant in her home county. She served six years as a county Extension agent supporting 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences programs, with her local program growing in 4-H membership, volunteers, grants, donations, and program offerings. In 1995, Jenny accepted an Extension 4-H Volunteer & Teen program specialist position and served on the Georgia 4-H faculty for nineteen years. She coordinated statewide leadership programs, including the Georgia 4-H Board of Directors and the 4-H Volunteer Advisory Council, the State 4-H Council, the 4-H Fall Forum, 4-H Leadership in Action, 4-H Project Achievement, and the 4-H Ambassador program. She was responsible for training and supporting volunteer development, including risk management and screening. Her work with 4-H policy and guidelines was the model for the UGA precollegiate guidelines as well as other state 4-H programs. Jenny served the final three years of her UGA employment as a Senior Public Service Associate at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, supporting community and youth leadership programs. Her contracts and grants portfolio including more than $100,000 in projects.

She co-authored modules in the Community Leadership Program, 6th edition, the Georgia Mentoring Scan, Career Leadership SMARTs, and the College of Engineering Leadership program. Jenny is an often recruited facilitator and presenter. She has provided training and facilitation nationally and internationally. During her career, she has given more than 1,000 presentations to more than 40,000 people. She has also co-authored eleven peer-reviewed journal articles and one book chapter. Jenny’s passion is creating educational experiences that deliver change. Whether community leaders, young people, volunteers, or Navy field staff, Jenny loves creating engaging opportunities to harvest each person’s desire to learn and helps set each up for success.

Programs and Initiatives

• 4-H Military Partnership
• Navy 4-H Partnership

Contributing Websites

• http://www.4hmilitarypartnership.org
• https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mcc-central/node/8214

Professional Honors/Offices/Recognitions

• 2017: NCAE4HA Volunteer Team Award
• 2014: NAE4HA 25 years of Service Award
• 2014: NCAE4HA Volunteer Team Award
• 2012: NAE4HA Educational Package Team-Southern Region Winner
• 2011: GAE4HA Army Youth Award
• 2010: Outstanding Supporter, Georgia National Guard
• 2008: NAE4HA Meritorious Service Award-National Honoree
• 2006: NAE4HA Educational Packaged Curriculum – Southern Region Winner
• 2006: NAE4HA Educational Technology Team-Southern Region Winner
• 2004: NAE4HA Educational Package Program-National Winner

Selected Publications

• Mull, C.D., & Jordan, J.W. (2023). A preliminary look at Cooperative Extension professionals: Higher education wolves or red riding hoods of the local community. Journal of Higher Education, Outreach and Engagement – Boundary Spanning edition.
• Culp, K. III., Edwards, H.C., & Jordan, J.W. (2019). Using an innovative multiple-methods approach to evaluate extension conferences. Journal of Extension, 57(2).
• Griffeth, L.L., Tiller, L., Jordan, J.W., Sapp, R, (2018). Women leaders in agriculture: A data- driven approach to furthering the conversation. Journal of Extension, 56(7).
• Mull, C.D., Jordan, J.W., & Daniel, J.B. (2018). Where scholarship and practice meet: Lessons learned in Cooperative Extension in Kezar, A., Drivalas, Y., & Kitchen, J. (Eds.), Public Scholarship: Research for the Common Good (pp. 120-134). Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
• Culp, K., Edwards, H.C., & Jordan, J.W. (2018). Confessions of Three (over) Achievers, Programming for Affiliation-Motivated Volunteers. International Journal of Volunteer Administration, 23 (2).
• Culp, K. III., Edwards, H.C., & Jordan, J.W. (2015). The use of focus groups to evaluate the volunteer conference of southern states. Journal of Extension, 53(4).
• Culp, K. III., Edwards, H.C., & Jordan, J.W. (2014). Utilizing an advisory group to obtain volunteer perspective for regional programming. Journal of Extension, 53(5). Mull, C.D. & Jordan, J.W. (2014). Boundary spanning. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 23(3). 56-9.
• Culp, K. III., Edwards, H.C., & Jordan, J.W. (2014). Creating southern region 4-H volunteer advisory group. Journal of Extension, 52(6).
• Sandmann, L.R., Jordan, J.W., Mull, C.D., & Valentine, T. (2014). Measuring boundary spanning behaviors and community engagement. Journal of Higher Education, Outreach and Engagement.

Area(s) of Expertise

• Extension Military Programs
• Adult Education
• Experiential Learning
• Youth Voice & Partnerships
• Volunteer Engagement