Her personal journey to the University of Miami has faced no shortage of challenges, but she met adversity with the tenacity to make authentic, intentional choices.
Drawing from a deep-rooted connection to the Sunshine State, Jordyn says her motivation for choosing the University of Miami was the institution's dedication to fostering academic and extracurricular success.
“I applied to UM because of its focus on excellence in and out of the classroom,” she said. “The opportunities available led me to apply, as well as the fact that I was born in Florida and left when I was only a little over 1 year old. I felt compelled to come back to explore and experience the very place where I was born.”
After receiving the acceptance letter from the University of Miami, she called her mother to apologize for omitting that she applied to the University of Miami and to inform her of the choice she was about to make.
“We [Jordyn and her mom] had created a list of schools that I would apply to,” she explained. “And we went through the process of choosing schools based on what we thought would be a good fit. I had not come across UM until well after that list was created and although I thought that it would be a shot in the dark, I applied anyway.”
Although she had her doubts and changed her major several times, she never looked back on her decision to attend the University of Miami. Her diverse experiences include teaching financial literacy to underserved high school students in Belize City with the Hyperion Council; serving as president of the intramural women's rugby team; and scaling her baking business, Sweet Treats by Jordyn, from St. Lucia to Coral Gables. Jordyn was awarded the University of Miami's NAACP Chapter "Entrepreneur of the Year" award, worked on the 10th Annual Patricia A. Whitely Women's Symposium committee, and completed a professional internship at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Don Donelson, a Miami Herbert professor, and Ellenmarie McPhillip, who was assistant dean of undergraduate business during Jordyn’s sophomore year, played crucial roles in her development. Under their guidance, she honed her writing and speaking skills, gained confidence, and developed a strong interest in health policy.
“My writing skills improved tremendously because of Professor Donelson’s instruction and guidance,” she said. “My confidence in interviews and presentations skyrocketed after taking his classes.”
Jordyn credits McPhillip with positively impacting and motivating her interest in health policy and for guiding her through scholarship applications. She is very thankful for McPhillip’s dedication to helping her and thinks of her as her academic “godmother.”
Family also played a vital role in Jordyn’s academic journey.
“Throughout my time at UM, I had an amazing support system in and outside of the classroom,” she said. “My immediate and extended family were incredibly supportive of me and my goals, and for that I am so grateful.”
She found her passion for eliminating health disparities through an introduction to Miami Herbert’s Health Management and Policy Department. Jordyn dreams of becoming a trailblazer in the public health industry, working in both the United States and Saint Lucia to improve healthcare for underserved populations. She envisions establishing a nonprofit organization to mentor underprivileged students and empower them to exercise their agency.
Her philosophy revolves around the power of choice, which she believes can ignite one's soul. She offers three strategies for igniting the soul: prioritize honesty when deciding where to invest your energy; fearlessly pursue your passions; and take time to rest and recharge.
She deeply resonates with the words of William Henley, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” With a wealth of accomplishments under her belt, Jordyn is determined to continue making purposeful choices. "I will choose every day to pursue what lights my soul on fire," she said, committed to finding power through purpose.
This May, Jordyn graduates and embarks on a career at Helio Health Group, a pharmaceutical consulting firm in Boston.
