Professor of Geology, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
J. Preston Levis Professor of Engineering
Cornell University
B.S. (geology), 1974, RPI; Ph.D. (Geology), 1979, Stanford University
Jordan’s research involves use of sedimentary rock distributions and properties to reconstruct earth history and to provide natural resources. The foci of the last decade have been the climate and hydrological history of the Atacama Desert of Chile, and on finding more environmentally benign ways to meet society's needs for energy using subsurface resources. Ongoing projects include geothermal energy exploration in eastern North America. Jordan served2001-2003 as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs in Cornell’s Engineering College and 2003-2008 as the Chair of Cornell University’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and previously served the National Science Foundation on advisory committees for the Office of International Science and Engineering and for Environmental Research and Education. She has served the Chilean science and engineering research community on the external review team for FONDAP Water Center for Agriculture and Mining.Recognitions of her work include selection as a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (1995), a Corresponding Member of the Asociación Geológica Argentina (1997), the Lawrence Sloss award of the Sedimentary Geology division of the Geological Society of America (2005), a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (2014), and the William F Twenhofel Medal of SEPM the Society for Sedimentary Geology (2021).