2017 Incoming Grad Series: Jordan Victorian

This is the second article in our 2017 Incoming Grad Series, which features backstories and fun facts on 8 students who are part of our largest and most diverse incoming class in recent memory.

We are delighted to introduce you to Jordan Victorian, an incoming Ph.D. student in Feminist Studies with plans to add an emphasis in Black Studies. Jordan is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is a recipient of the Mellon Mays fellowship. While they are focused on Feminist Studies, ​they are is also interested in marketing, design, and other more administrative aspects of higher education. During ​their time at UCSB, they will be focusing on the politics of race and sexuality, specifically black sexual politics.

Read on to learn more about ​Jordan's research interests and what they are looking forward to at UCSB.

	THE STORY Jordan grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with their mom, dad, and sister. As a loud and troublesome toddler, they have translated that energy into being an "angelic troublemaker," focusing on more helpful activities like scholarship and activism. They recently received a bachelor's degree in American Culture Studies and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and attribute to their success in school to encouragement from their parents.
	WHY UCSB When visiting campus, Jordan learned how supportive the Feminist Studies department was and about academic resources that would help them grow professionally. They were swayed by the presence of the Multicultural Center and the Resource Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity that were integral resources to their undergraduate education. Santa Barbara and UCSB are a different social and political environment from areas they have experienced in the past and provide an opportunity to learn new skills. They are looking forward to exploring a new place and meeting new people.
	RESEARCH INTERESTS Jordan focuses on the politics of race and sexuality with a core interest in black sexual politics. Specifically, they study how black people construct non-monogamous relationships, creating both theories and structures of intimacy. From there, they hope to theorize more on the relationship between blackness, sexual deviance, and political possibilities while approaching it all from an interdisciplinary and mixed-methods perspective. In undergrad, they were involved in queer student groups on campus and introduced to the concept of polyamory. They ultimately realized that the growing field of polyamory was missing an analysis of race and people of color. They began their research in St. Louis interviewing several residents who are interested in non-monogamy and are excited and ready to explore a more focused, rigorous project here at UCSB.
	FUN FACTS Jordan loves to eat! They like to cook and hope to do more baking in the future. Dining out and eating in offer great opportunities for good company and conversation. Aside from the joys of eating, Jordan also feels good when connected to activism or advocacy, even if it's helping with the less visible parts that help things run more smoothly.

Welcome, Jordan!

Be sure to subscribe to the GradPost and check back each day until the start of classes for the continuation of our Incoming Grad Series. Up next is J​ames O'Hara, an incoming Ph.D. student in Physics from Springfield, ​Pennsylvania, who also co-hosts a podcast talking about the intersection of the sciences and public life.