Welcome, and thanks for visiting my e-portfolio!
I’m Jordan Beasley (she/her/hers) and I’m from Chicago, IL. I’m proud to be a part of the Buckeye family, and as someone who loves the juxtaposition of city life and being out in nature, I’ve enjoyed being in Columbus while exploring other green opportunities undergrad has to offer! Some of my interests include lifting, hair and makeup, traveling, hanging out with friends, and volunteering within various communities.
My studies at OSU include a Zoology major and a minor in American Sign Language (ASL). I’m a part of the Stamps Eminence Scholars cohort of 2025 as well as the University Honors program. Most of my major coursework is under the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and has been supplemented by other experiences and courses in other departments.
The most significant influence on my academic interests is the career of Jane Goodall, a world-renowned primatologist and ethologist famous for her groundbreaking discoveries working with wild chimpanzees. She inspired me to pursue working with animals professionally and to be an advocate for biodiversity and endangered species. Working for animals is a selfless path and requires a lot of emotional intelligence and quick thinking skills amongst general biology and behavioral knowledge.
Post-graduation, I hope to be involved in a career centered on wild animal conservation, cruelty investigation, or rehabilitation. The vision I have for my work looks like traveling from place to place and collaborating with diverse scholars and students working on the tangible issues affecting animals that also harm our planet and smaller communities. I want to create a world with more protected biodiversity and implement laws to restore habitats and the natural lifestyles of critically endangered species. My first work experience was in a work-study program at the accredited John G. Shedd Aquarium interpreting animal information for guests while learning how to formulate and conduct a behavioral research project. This was the “a-ha moment” that sparked my interest in ethology, animal conservation, and figuring out how we can worth with animals to benefit both the natural environment and overall happiness for all involved.
As a Black student studying at a predominantly white institution, I’ve found it especially important to shape my extracurriculars in a way that would involve me with OSU’s Black community and leadership while also including academic interests. For this sorority year, I am the President of the Xi Gamma chapter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated here at OSU. I’m a general body member of OSU’s NAACP chapter and served for one year as the Black Student Association’s Community Service Chair. I’m a founding exective board member of Minority Students Learning Signs, an organization that aims to spread awareness about American Sign Language while forming connections with local Deaf organizations and individuals. I’ve also been in Zoology Club, Deaf-Hearing Club, sat service dogs in training with 4Paws for Ability, and helped plan Ohio State’s Annual African-American Heritage Festival. These organizations all contribute academically and socially to my development and with the social and leadership skills I learn from them in addition to my coursework I aim to increase minority presence and inclusion in wildlife fields.
With formalities done, I hope you’ve enjoyed my introduction! Feel free to explore my LinkedIn in an effort to learn more about my involvements and I hope we stay connected in the future. Feel free to contact me through email: beasley.157@osu.edu, & Go Bucks!!