Deirdre Jordan
Deirdre Jordan | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Born | Deirdre Frances Jordan 18 September 1926 |
| Died | 10 January 2026 (aged 99) |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Honors | AC MBE |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Christian |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Order | Sisters of Mercy |
| Monastic name | Sister Mary Campion |
| Senior posting | |
| Post | Chancellor of Flinders University |
| Period in office | 1998–2002 |
| Predecessor | Francis Robert Fisher AO |
| Successor | Sir Eric Neal |
Sister Deirdre Frances Jordan RSM AC MBE (18 September 1926 – 10 January 2026) was an Australian academic, educator and Catholic nun.
Life and career
Jordan was born in Loxton, South Australia, on 18 September 1926 to Clement and Helena Jordan (née Roberts). She was educated at St Aloysius College in Adelaide, South Australia, and joined the Sisters of Mercy when she was 19. With a Bachelor of Arts degree, Jordan (then known as "Sister Mary Campion") took on the position of principal at St Aloysius College in 1954, remaining in the position until 1968.[1][2]
While at St Aloysius, Jordan completed a master's degree in education at the University of Adelaide, becoming the first woman to do so.[3] This led to a position as a lecturer at the University of Adelaide in sociology, where she remained until 1988. During this period she undertook a number of study tours, including to Tanzania, China and South America.[4]
Jordan was appointed pro-chancellor of The Flinders University of South Australia in 1981 and subsequently chancellor in 1988.[5] Retiring from the position in 2002 (delayed in order to fight plans for a merger between Flinders University and the University of Adelaide), she was granted the title of emeritus chancellor later that year.[5][6][7]
Jordan became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 1 January 1969 for services to education. She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) on 26 January 1989.[4]
Jordan died on 10 January 2026 at the age of 99.[8]
References
- ^ Williams, Kate (7 March 1998). "Our 101 most influential women". The Advertiser. Adelaide, Australia. p. 8.
- ^ Mackinnon, Alison (2000). "A Woman of Conviction A Tribute to Sister Deirdre Jordan, 22 October 1999". Australian Feminist Studies. 15 (31): 5–18. doi:10.1080/713611920. S2CID 144925968.
- ^ Uren, Kate; Pengelley, Jill (22 October 1999). "Catholic Nun SA's Most Outstanding Woman of 1999". The Advertiser. Adelaide, Australia. p. 8.
- ^ a b Heywood, Anne (30 April 2009). "Jordan, Deirdre Frances (1926 - )". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Former Officers". Flinders University of South Australia. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ Williams, Thea (26 May 2000). "Uni head stays on to fight merger". The Advertiser. Adelaide, Australia. p. 4.
- ^ "University honours pair". The Advertiser. Adelaide, Australia. 7 December 2002. p. 36.
- ^ "Jordan, Deirdre". My Tributes. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
