Tom Jordan \u201975 (CLAS) grew up in a tiny town in northern Vermont that was even smaller than his freshman dorm complex at UConn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big adjustment for me,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI grew up in a big family, and I knew a lot of people in town. But I didn\u2019t know anybody at UConn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty stressful for me to make that transition, and I struggled academically because of that. Once I formed more of a community and some friends, boy, it made a world of difference in my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
That experience inspired Tom and his wife, Laura, to help with that transition for other students. They recently gave $1 million to support a new program to help students build a sense of community and belonging early on at UConn. It will train peer ambassadors to visit floors in residence halls where they will teach first-year students a variety of skills to support their mental health and well-being.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students are asking us for more information about how they can take care of themselves in a pretty stressful world,\u201d says Suzanne Onorato, executive director of UConn Student Health and Wellness, who is creating the Wellness Ambassador program.<\/p>\n
The program will train Wellness Ambassador peer mentors to give students a safe space outside of the classroom to engage, talk about health and wellness, learn about available resources, and hear from guest speakers. Research has shown that students with a sense of belonging and well-being are more likely to remain in college and be successful.<\/p>\n
Development for the Wellness Ambassador program will begin this fall partnering with the student ambassadors from the Wellness Community at UConn to maximize the impact of their work in other residential areas. The plan is to gradually expand to an additional seven or eight ambassadors over the next few years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of ways to get lost at any point in life, but especially at that age,\u201d Laura Jordan says. \u201cJust think of all the pulls of social media and all the economic instability in our society. So, you\u2019ve got to have that core sense of who you are and your purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hope is that, as a result of the program, students will feel a sense of wholeness,\u201d she continues. \u201cThey\u2019ll walk out of UConn feeling like whole people that have community and the skills to navigate the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jordans\u2019 gift will also fund the planning and development of an alternative spring break program at UConn creating an opportunity for students to go on a retreat or trip that will challenge them, create a connection, and build new relationships. Their generous gift supports UConn\u2019s fundraising campaign pillars to put students first and support their health and well-being.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Jordans are genuinely committed to student wellbeing and student success,\u201d Onorato says. \u201cThey have been supporting UConn students\u2019 wellbeing for 10 years and this gift advances that commitment to have more impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan Fuerst, vice president for student life and enrollment, agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impact of Tom and Laura\u2019s generosity to UConn’s Wellness Community will improve the lives of our students, providing them enriched emotional and intellectual skills to navigate the complicated world we live in today,\u201d Fuerst says. \u201cTheir authentic passion behind the Wellness Community and what it is set up to achieve is inspiring, and we are beyond grateful for their vision and support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jordans are active retirees and split their time between homes in Andover, Mass. and Tucson, Arizona. Tom founded and ran T & T Marketing Company, which sells materials to make electrical cables. Laura, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master\u2019s in education at the University of Delaware, has had a varied career as a campus minister, college counselor, and editor.<\/p>\n
Both value fitness and enjoy hiking and swimming. They are also active volunteers in their church and the local boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 clubs. And they remain committed to finding ways to build community, even in their own lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still working on building our own community, especially when you\u2019re retired and your friends have moved away,\u201d Laura says. \u201cCommunity building and mental health is a lifelong journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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