Student Profile: Jordan Parker, MPP Class of 2026

In Jordan Parker’s studio—amidst hanging racks of vibrant clothing she crocheted herself—hangs a portrait of her designed to look like the cover of Vogue magazine. “My mom painted that,” she said proudly.

“I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia with a mom who was a children’s book illustrator and aunties who were college professors, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and artists. It was kind of a microcosm of go-getters and women who were always there to support me and my dream. I love Atlanta. It's my home, and it'll always be my home.”

Parker also draws inspiration from a trip to Peru with Girls Going Global, a nonprofit that works to empower young Black women to become global citizens through travel. “That trip deeply informed my interest in fashion policy, because I got to see how women made money in a small town in Peru by making quilts. So being able to see fashion and textiles as a viable means of female empowerment informed my entire academic trajectory.”

Parker graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta with a bachelor’s in political science and government. After graduating, she worked as a consultant at Atlanta Housing, using coding software to analyze fifteen years of data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to inform housing policy advancements. She also interned with Georgia Women Connect, conducting research on state and local political structures in Georgia to place women into state and local boards and commissions.

Parker said she decided to pursue the Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to meld her love for fashion and textiles with her interest in economics and international development.  “I'm looking at how to push fashion diplomacy to the center of international diplomacy and figure out how the textile industry impacts global solidarity, global economics, gender equity, and issues with the environment.” To that end, Parker also plans to pursue a specialization in International Policy & Development.

The summer before joining Harris, Parker served as a student runner for CNN for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, helping organize production logistics for guests and CNN talent and researching daily media coverage on topics related to news and politics to prep guests and talent for the early morning shows. “I found out about the opportunity through emails from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Attending the conventions showed me that despite some differences, people want the same things. I hope we see a return of partisanship and working across the aisle after this election.”

At Harris, Parker has wasted no time in getting involved. As a graduate assistant with the admissions office, she helps share the student experience with prospective students, and she's already exploring opportunities with Harris Student Organizations. “I attended an information session on Harris Student Government, so I have my eye on that.”

The advice Parker shares with incoming and prospective students is, “Know your why and to be honest about your why. Personally, my 'why' has been shaped by losing my father to pancreatic cancer last year. The loss taught me many meaningful lessons, especially to live every single day in the full truth of who I am. People often get caught up in trying to say what we think others want to hear.  But I've found that it's much more effective—and just feels better—when you tell your truth.”