Educational Developer. Electrifying Speaker.
College Instructor.
Jordan holds an M.A. in Learning, Design, & Technology from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in Communication from McDaniel College. Hover over the images below to learn about JD's professional background and how he became a trusted voice on teaching and learning.
Jordan's Story
Baltimore, MD served as the backdrop for JD's upbringing, where organized sports, church, and time with family were foundational for his development. Specifically, it was his time at Randallstown High School that set Jordan on a path toward a career in educational development.
"Why do students who love to learn hate school?"
This was the title of JD's senior research project in high school, inspired by his growing frustrations with the US education system. He was supported by Dr. Joquetta Johnson, his mentor and instructor for the research course. JD presented his findings at a regional symposium that spring, officially catalyzing his speaking career. The following summer, he would take his public speaking skills to the next level, joining Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and becoming a state champion speaker and national finalist that same year.
JD uncovered an innate ability to inspire others through speech. In his first year at McDaniel College, a small liberal arts college about 40 miles north of Baltimore, he founded JD Speaks LLC. Still a teen, Jordan had established a platform that led to speaking engagements at conferences where he addressed educational challenges faced by instructors and students. He soon developed expertise around career navigation, college readiness, and teaching, a combination that makes him dynamic and relatable to many audiences.
At Georgetown University, Jordan became a thought leader on inclusive pedagogy. He was inspired by trauma-informed teaching, accessibility pedagogy, and community organizing principles, all of which he gathered from his time as both a student in Georgetown's Learning, Design, & Technology and a Project Coordinator at GU's teaching and learning center. While working and studying in the nation's capital, he gained expertise in upholding these principles in higher ed learning contexts. He's since given numerous keynotes and workshops, serving K-12 and higher ed instructors from all over the world.
Today, Jordan's signature message for educators prepares them to be critical proponents of learning technology by deploying evidence-based approaches to generative AI and mobile devices in college classrooms. When working with students, he helps them use design thinking to set and achieve their career goals. When he's not speaking, he's teaching his annual Education Technology course for rising high school seniors in Georgetown University's Summer College Immersion Program.
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