Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
People
and process
Jordan's knack for details, warm personality endear her to many
During her 30-year career at Furman Faye Jordan has helped find jobs for thousands of students. Each Homecoming, her office is a revolving door of alumni. Some of her best friends, in fact, are former students.
So when Jordan, director of student employment and recipient of the 2003 Chiles-Harrill Award, was introduced at Founders Day Convocation as a Student Services employee, only a few people blinked.
"When Dr. (A.V.) Huff was describing the winner I said to myself that almost sounds like me," says Jordan. "But when he said the winner was a member of the Student Services staff I began to think that it was someone else. So I was really surprised when my name was announced."
For the record, Jordan works in Enrollment. Huff, of course, was pardoned, but only after some good-natured ribbing. (He didn't write the script.)
The Chiles-Harrill Award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who has made substantial contributions to students' lives. It is named in honor of former vice president of academic affairs Marguerite Chiles and Ernest Harrill, a longtime member of the political science department and dean of students.
When Jordan, who grew up in Berea and graduated from Anderson College, first came to Furman in 1973, she actually was as a member of the Student Services division. For 16 years, she served as an administrative assistant and test administrator in the Student Counseling and Testing Center (now Counseling Center). During the summer months she worked in Financial Aid, where she helped coordinate student loans and student employment.
In 1989, she was promoted to her current position. She assigns student jobs, organizes job fairs and maintains seven - yes, seven - budgets. It's a Herculean job considering that 1,100 of Furman's 2,600 students worked on campus this year. Her office deals with mountains of paperwork. And although Jordan "has grown into being detail-oriented," she relishes the part of her job that deals with people, not process.
Because her job touches so many, there are few people on campus - students, faculty and staff - who have not been touched by Jordan's engaging personality and genuine enthusiasm.
Jordan also oversees the America Read and America Counts program, a federally funded initiative that pays students to tutor elementary and middle school students in math and reading. Ninety-three students earn $87,000 through the program each year. She's also been active in professional associations, serving seven years on the board (two as president) of the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators.
A sense of humor, family work ethic and, of course, six student workers help get her through the hectic days. Her father, the late Bill Sams, worked 45 years as an engineer for Southern Railroad. He instilled in his four daughters a healthy work ethic, appreciation for family, and a devotion to their employer that today seems antiquated.
"He always told us that if you're good to the company you work for they'll be good to you," says Jordan.
The message certainly resonated with Jordan and her sister, Sarah Wells, Furman's Registrar. Together, the pair have a combined 68 years of service to Furman.
"I love working in the education environment," she says. "Furman is ingrained in me. It's part of my life."
Editor's note: Myra Crumley, the other recipient of the 2003 Chiles-Harrill Award, will be profiled in the summer issue of Inside Furman.