Dr. Nickolas Jordan, associate dean of student affairs and program services in Appalachian’s Reich College of Education and associate professor in the college’s Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling. He is the winner of the 2018 Award for Academic Freedom and Faculty Governance conferred by Appalachian’s AAUP chapter. Photo by Marie Freeman
Dr. Nickolas Jordan
Associate dean of student affairs and program services, associate professor
Reich College of Education, Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling
Appalachian’s AAUP chapter said Jordan “brings a much-needed voice on diversity, inclusivity and sustained dialog to our campus,” and praised him for his work as an advocate for Appalachian’s students, faculty and administrators.
BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Nickolas Jordan, associate dean of student affairs and program services in the Reich College of Education (RCOE) at Appalachian State University, has received the 2018 Award for Academic Freedom and Faculty Governance from the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
The chapter described Jordan as an administrator one who “listens carefully to faculty and their concerns, stressing the necessity of on-going dialog between faculty and administrators.” It praised his work as an advocate for students, faculty and administrators.
The chapter stated Jordan’s contribution to the campus “embodies the values of shared governance and academic freedom that are central to AAUP. Nickolas Jordan brings a much-needed voice on diversity, inclusivity and sustained dialog to our campus. He is transparent, honest and deeply committed to shared governance and equity.”
Jordan, associate professor in the RCOE’s Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, has taught at Appalachian since 2011. He holds a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies and a B.S. in psychology from Virginia Tech. His M.A. and Ph.D. are from Syracuse University.
Jordan’s scholarly work covers topics from social media in the classroom to race equity on university campuses, as well as family therapy, gender equality and social justice issues. He was recognized as the 2014 Outstanding Diversity Advocate by the Appalachian Student Government Association. He has also been awarded the RCOE Outstanding Service Award for his contributions as a scholar, teacher, administrator and therapist.
About the American Association of University Professors
Founded in 1915, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a national organization of American college and university professors that has chapters on over 450 campuses. AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in the nation's colleges and universities. AAUP defines fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, advances the rights of academics, particularly as those rights pertain to academic freedom and shared governance, and promotes the interests of higher education teaching and research. Prominent members have included John Dewey and Albert Einstein. Learn more at https://www.aaup.org.
About the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling
The Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling in Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education is responsible for organizing and providing instructional programs in counseling and other human development functions for public schools, colleges and universities and various agencies. The department offers Master of Arts degrees in clinical mental health counseling, professional school counseling, college student development and marriage and family therapy. Learn more at https://hpc.appstate.edu.
About the Reich College of Education
Appalachian offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its bachelor's, master's, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. With so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
