Steve Jordan
Engineer, Former NFL SuperstarClass of 1982
Steve Jordan '82, the Minnesota Vikings' six-time Pro Bowl tight end, now works as a civil engineer helping to build hospitals, laboratories, and sporting arenas.
He has remained closely involved with Brown, serving as a University Trustee and Fellow, and contributing to a $100,000 scholarship fund for minority athletes.
At the age of 17, I wasn’t quite sure which college I would attend. All I knew was that I wanted to study engineering, I wanted to play college football, and I wanted to be somewhere other than Arizona.
My other criteria were that the institution had to have a good academic reputation, a solid athletic program with a track record of prioritizing academics over athletics for student athletes, and a vibrant undergraduate experience.
Upon assessing my choices, I was impressed with the fact that Brown wanted academically strong students that would be involved in the institution through clubs, sports, and the community, not just those interested in achieving their personal educational objectives and moving on. I also realized that this was a great opportunity to get exposure to a diverse population of students from a geographical, socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural perspective.
At Brown, I got that exposure, and I made many friends that I still have today. I exchanged cultural information with students ranging from engineering students from Africa to teammates from New York. Brown has always been known for its outstanding faculty; I developed some wonderful relationships with my professors, even participating directly in one professor's research efforts.
In retrospect, Brown was a great choice for me. I had some of the best, and yet most challenging experiences of my life. During my four years at Brown, my personal growth was phenomenal. Brown gave me tools that have contributed directly to my success, both professionally and personally.