Jordan takes on Leadership Position with UMN’s Institute on the Environment
Cathy Jordan, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics and Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, recently joined the UMN’s Institute on the Environment (IonE), as the Associate Director for Leadership and Education. This half-time position, focused on cultivating awareness of environmental issues and sustainable solutions and supporting sustainability-savvy leaders, will allow Jordan to continue her roles as Director of Research with the Children & Nature Network (a national non-profit), and Team Leader for Training with the HYD-PRC, as well as her role supporting community-engaged scholars with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
As a pediatric neuropsychologist, Jordan has a long-standing interest in the influence of environments on children’s health and development. Jordan’s research explores the positive impact nature has on children’s physical and mental health and educational outcomes. She also works to build participatory research partnerships between academic institutions and communities. Further tying together her passion for nature and health, Jordan serves as the consulting Director of Research for the Children & Nature Network, where she leads efforts to translate research on nature’s benefits for public audiences and works to advance research on nature-based learning.
In her new IonE role, Jordan will oversee a wide range of leadership and professional development activities and programs, serving University students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members, sustainability practitioners, and decision-makers.
“IonE is a model for the University of a community of purpose, inspired by a shared vision and supported in tangible ways to work at the intersection of diverse disciplines and in academic-community partnership on crucial socio-environmental goals,” Jordan says. “This position provides a perfect opportunity to bring my scholarly interests, skills, and leadership experience together to serve an organization that truly inspires me.” Jordan adds, “I’m thrilled to be able to offer a venue through IonE for our interdisciplinary fellows in the Division to access additional leadership development opportunities and to participate in research on the influence of the environment on human health and development.”
More information about Jordan’s position and the Institute on the Environment, can be found at: http://environment.umn.edu/news/two-new-university-sustainability-leaders-ione-associate-directors