Background: Jordan grew up in a small town near Philadelphia in the U.
S. state of Pennsylvania. Jordan was born to hearing parents, with no other instances of deafness in his family. After graduating from high school, Penncrest High School, in 1962, he was also in the U.
S Navy for 4 years. Jordan became deaf at age 21 when, while driving a motorcycle, he suffered a skull fracture due to not wearing a helmet after having been flung into the windshield of a car. Jordan served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gallaudet University when he was chosen as candidate for the presidency.As professor, department chair, dean, and president, Jordan has made numerous scholarly contributions to his field.
In addition, he has been a research fellow at Donaldson's School for the Deaf in Edinburgh, Scotland, an exchange scholar at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a visiting scholar and lecturer at schools in the French cities of Paris, Toulouse, and Marseille. Jordan and his wife, Linda, live in West River, Maryland. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Jordan loves running daily.As of 2009, he continues to run the Marine Corps Marathon each year. He was a co-founder of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Accomplishments: I.
King Jordan has distinguished himself as a scholar, teacher, and leader in education. He has earned the attention and admiration of the nation as the first deaf president of an institution of higher education. As Gallaudet University's first deaf president in the institution’s 125-year history, he represents the actuality of his now famous statement, "Deaf people can do anything except hear.Jordan lost his hearing while serving in the U. S. Navy.
Undaunted, he received his bachelor's degree from Gallaudet University. After earning his master’s degree and Ph. D. in psychology from the University of Tennessee, Jordan joined the faculty at Gallaudet. He later became the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, and then president in 1988. Jordan serves on national and international boards and committees concerned with deafness.
He has been a visiting scholar to a number of universities internationally.Jordan is the recipient of numerous awards including the Leadership and Dedication Award for Civil and Human Rights for All Mankind, Washington, D. C. City Council, Ward 5, 1989; Educator of the Year, Delta Phi Epsilon Honorary Society, 1988; the United States Comptroller General ’s Award, 1987; Distinguished Leadership Award, National Association for Community Leadership, 1989; One-of-a-Kind Award, People-to-People Committee for the Handicapped, 1989; and the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award, 1989.
Dr. Jordan holds eleven honorary degrees and is the recipient of numerous awards, among them: the Presidential Citizen's Medal, the Washingtonian of the Year Award, the James L. Fisher Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Larry Stewart Award from the American Psychological Association, and the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association for Community Leadership.In 1990, President George Bush appointed Dr. Jordan Vice Chair of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (PCEPD). In 1993, President Clinton reappointed Dr.
Jordan vice Chair of PCEPD. News: When I. King Jordan announced in fall 2005 to a hushed and expectant crowd at Gallaudet University that he would step down as president of the school for the deaf. People were very upset because he gave them the motivation they needed in their life.
