As a high school student through his early years as a graduate student in wildlife ecology, Jordan worked at captive wildlife facilities (i.e.,Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; Cleveland Museum of Natural History; New England Aquarium). While an undergraduate student at Skidmore College and Boston University, Jordan participated in herpetological surveys of emydid turtles and timber rattle snakes. His undergraduate thesis, involved demographic and ecological studies of pinnipeds and cetaceans off the coast of Baja, Mexico.
Jordan has served as a general relief (swing) keeper for invertebrate, Ichthyological, herpetological, ornithological, and mammalogical collections as well as fissiped and pinniped trainer at the Cleveland Zoo. He concurrently pursued graduate research in wildlife ecology at John Carroll University. Jordan's master’s thesis, a study of parasite community ecology and pathogen-mediated competition in plethodontid salamanders, involved one of the few studies of naturally occurring hybrid vertebrate populations in the world to -date. He also served as a guest host for a zoo television program produced by the local ABC network affiliate and participated in other zoo- related conservation education endeavors for the media. Jordan later served as the Assistant to the Curator of Conservation & Science at the Cleveland Zoo where he assisted with the teaching and curriculum development for an applied behavioral research and zoo biology course. He also assisted keeper staff with husbandry training, and conducted field work on native Ohio amphibians. As a graduate fellow in the Department of Zoology at Miami University, he began doctoral work on ambystomatid salamanders, with an interest in the synergistic effects of toxicants, UV light, and pathogens. Following an offer to study zoo animal health and concurrently pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM) at Ohio State University, Jordan accepted a research and teaching graduate associateship in veterinary parasitology.
Upon arriving at OSU, he co-developed the Laboratory for Wildlife and Environmental Health (LWEH), through which he directs the Bear Conservation Medicine Program. His research involves investigations of the health and management of the eight extant species of bears, a program which includes participation from over a hundred and twenty zoological park on four continents. He also studies captive mustelids and free-ranging bears in North & South America (brown, black, polar, & Andean). Jordan is a Research Associate with two zoos, and an Affiliate Research Scientist with Fundacion Zoobreviven in Ecuador. He moderates listserves for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (Student Organization Forum), as well a listserve for the Student Working Group of the European Association of Zoo & Wildlife Veterinarians. He recently developed a website (www.bearkeepers.net) and listserv for bear husbandry professionals working at sanctuaries, zoos, and rehabilitation facilities. Jordan also serves as the Correspondent Editor & Captive Correspondent- Western Hemisphere Section for International Bear News, a quarterly newsletter published by the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA/Bear Specialist Group-IUCN- www.bearbiology.org). He also serves as Assistant to the Editor of the Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine. He is also a member of the Conservation & Management Committee for the Zoo Registrars' Association and the Marketing Committee for the American Association of Zoo Keepers . After completion of his dissertation in July of 2006, he will resume his veterinary studies at Western University (Los Angeles), the newest veterinary school in the United States. He will also continue research at the LWEH (www.bearconservationmedicine.org) which will be relocating to Western University in the Fall of 2006.
Web: www.bearconservationmedicine.org; www.bearkeepers.net