As current UD Director Hugh Jebson moves on to become Assistant Headmaster next year, Berkeley will welcome Ryan Jordan to replace him as the new head of the Upper Division. Jordan will start this summer on July 1, allowing him to get acquainted with his new position before the start of the 2014-2015 school year. The Haverford College graduate is known for being one of the best educational leaders with an all-around passion for not only schools, but also for students.

Jordan has worked as a Dean of Students, Head of Admissions and an Upper Division Director in other schools. While attending a high school very similar to Berkeley, he was both a two-sport athlete and a renowned student in the classroom. After graduating from Haverford College, one of the nation’s leading liberal arts schools, he continued his passion for education and received his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College, graduating in 2001. Jordan is engaging and approachable and has a keen sense for all aspects of student life.

A number of student voices were heard as a part of the final selection process for the new head of Upper Division. The opinion of the students involved was quite influential because after all, a good relationship between the Upper Division Director and the student body is essential to a successful school year. Sophomore and Student Forum member Kendall Caputo was involved in the series of lunchtime meetings where several students had the opportunity to meet the candidates. She described her experiences during the process as casual conversations with all of the contenders. Caputo and fellow Student Forum member, junior Luke Collins, compared Jordan to Headmaster Joseph Seivold: a fun and relaxed guy who at the same time is also serious and professional. Caputo mentioned that she liked him the best of all of the candidates “because of his openness to Student Forum ideas, engaging attitude and friendliness.

From a professional standpoint, Seivold characterizes our new director as a man of great integrity, diligent work ethic and as someone who “lives and breathes schools.” When asked what made Jordan the best choice, Seivold said he was the best option for Berkeley out of the highly qualified pool of finalists.  He anticipates that Jordan will embody the Berkeley spirit, bring a strong work ethic, and a new perspective to the Berkeley community.