Personal
BACKGROUND
I’m Jordan, a creative content designer based in Alabama. I am passionate about all things sports; playing, watching, designing, photographing, and writing. I love telling the stories of student-athletes through visual content. Over the past four years, I have been able to utilize this passion of mine to showcase the talents of student-athletes through digital design and communication. I am fortunate that I currently get to fulfill my passion as the Director of Communications at The University of West Alabama.

I graduated from Lee University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and a minor in Public Relations and Deaf Studies. I was also the captain of the Women’s Track and Field team and competed in the heptathlon, 400m hurdles, high jump, and long jump. I graduated with my Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications from UWA in 2021.

WORKING IN SPORTS
Working in sports can be very rewarding and also very challenging. It can be challenging because as a woman I have to be able to carry myself in a different way than men do. I have to learn how to bite my tongue when people hear the name Jordan and automatically assume I am guy just because I work in sports. I have to choose to keep walking when a fan makes a comment about how women should not be working in athletics. I have to ignore people when they make comments about my clothes or appearance. Being a woman in sports is knowing that you will be the only woman in the meeting, room or gym. It’s having to validate yourself to others and prove that you do belong there. It’s having to be careful how you react to people because they will call you too dramatic or crazy. It’s missing family moments, time with my friends, and having shorter holidays than others. It’s telling your brothers you can’t make their basketball game because you have to work your own. It’s bringing your computer with you everywhere because as soon as the game ends you have to post a final graphic. It’s staying up late because your best work happens between the hours of 11 p.m. through 2 a.m. It’s constantly telling my friends, “I can’t come home, I have a game.” It’s saving up all your money to buy new gear while your friends are buying houses, new cars, getting married, and having kids. Working in sports is very challenging; however, it is also very rewarding.

It’s rewarding because I get to work with amazing and incredible people. I get to improve my skills through designing and photography every single day. It’s watching student-athletes growing and maturing in their skill set right before your eyes. It’s working alongside the most amazing and encouraging people you get to call your co-workers or your boss. It’s traveling to new locations and experiencing once in a lifetime opportunities. It’s being proud when a younger girl comes up to you and says “I wanna be just like you when I grow up.”

Working in sports is hard and the weekends are LONG. You don’t have normal Monday through Friday 8 to 5 hours. You work everyday for seven days straight praying you can catch a break in between. Working in sports, especially as a woman is so rewarding and worth it. Working in athletics has made me a strong, independent woman and I am so thankful for that.