Jordan Mareno
Higher Education Policy Fellow
As a member of the Policy & Research team, Jordan analyzes local, state, and national trends in higher education. Blending data with on-the-ground insights from Tennessee students, Jordan seeks out innovative strategies for expanding access and success in postsecondary education.
Jordan’s journey to The Education Trust – Tennessee has featured stops in various sectors. She began her career as a management consultant, specializing in corporate purpose and social impact. Later, she stepped into the nonprofit sector to design a national partnerships strategy for an innovative STEM program. Most recently, she served as a strategic analyst for Vanderbilt’s Provost.
A certified Tar Heel, Jordan graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in business administration. In 2022, she moved to Nashville to begin graduate school at Vanderbilt. As she works toward her master’s of education, Jordan is motivated by the past, present, and future of postsecondary access in the United States.
Superpower/Secret Talent
I am a road trip warrior! I earned my stripes alongside my siblings in our 1999 family Suburban (which still makes special appearances on back roads in North Carolina). Today, in the driver’s seat, I’ve driven the entirety of I-40, most of I-90, and an increasing percentage of I-65.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? (Ex. Hobbies, volunteer work)
Run! Having grown up in the City of Oaks, a tree-lined greenway feels like “home” to me. Nashville has spoiled me with its greenways – and also improved my snake-identification abilities.
Why are you passionate about working at Ed Trust?
Howard Becker observed that “every institution fails to keep its promises.” As an undergraduate student, I witnessed broken promises all across campus – some visible to the naked eye, others hiding behind expertly-placed veils. But, I also witnessed the power of a fierce student voice, demanding accountability. At The Education Trust, I have discovered a community of advocates who put microphones in the hands of students. I’m so grateful to be contributing to a postsecondary landscape defined not by institutional promises, but by students’ experiences.