Student Profile

Tristan Jordan
Virginia Beach, Va.
Major: Classical Studies & Biology
Class: 2008

When he was asked to offer some advice for incoming first-year students this fall, here’s what Tristan Jordan had to say: “Along with an open mind and lots of energy, please be sure to bring some shower shoes. On a more serious note, be sure to be enthusiastic and try to get involved…The College of Wooster is going to be your living space for the next four years, so be sure to take an active role in the campus community.”

Jordan, a biology and classical studies double major from Virginia Beach, Va., has certainly followed his own advice.

He serves as a peer mentor in the Center for Academic Advising, a member of the college’s judicial board, and treasurer of the Black Students Association and the campus chapter of the NAACP. He helped run first-year orientation this fall, runs indoor and outdoor track (mostly long jump and triple jump, and an occasional sprint relay) and works in the dean of students’ office. And then there’s that unlikely combination of majors: classical studies and biology. How did he pair those two?

“I’ve always been interested in science,” he says, “and I really enjoy biology.” As for classical studies, Jordan began taking Latin in eighth grade, “because I didn’t want to do Spanish or French like everyone else.” He credits “an amazing teacher” for really sparking his interest.

Heading into his senior year, Jordan thought about how he might combine those interests into a single topic for his Independent Study — Wooster’s capstone program in which each senior works one-on-one with a faculty adviser to create a research project, scholarly paper, performance, or exhibit of artwork — but ultimately decided to do two separate projects.

For biology, he will study a plant pathogen that attacks potato and tomato plants. There are some 200 genes associated with the infection process. Jordan will attempt to discover if one or more of them suppresses cell death, thereby preventing the suppression of the disease.

“I had Tristan last year in genetics and I was excited to have the opportunity to work with him on Independent Study this year,” say his advisor, Bill Morgan, an associate professor of biology. “He’s enthusiastic about his functional genomics project, constantly asking probing questions and making constructive suggestions to further his work. He has a bright future ahead of him in science.”

Jordan feels well prepared to take on I.S., both by Wooster’s curriculum and by his summer research experiences. For the past two summers, he has participated in cancer-related research at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The experience has confirmed his desire to go to graduate school and work in a research lab.

Jordan smiles as he describes driving to Wooster with his parents for the first time three years ago. When they realized that the wider-than-usual shoulder on the side of the road was meant to accommodate the horse-drawn buggies of the local Amish community, his father turned to him and said, “Tristan, you know it’s not too late to turn back.”

Thankfully, he didn’t turn back, and today he wouldn’t go back. He’s made some great friends, he says, like Emmanuel Sterling, who graduated last May, and JaQuan Bryant.

“They’ve been indispensable,” Jordan says. “Because of them, it’s been a phenomenal experience. The people definitely make Wooster.”