Jordan Long is the Advocacy Director for TennesseeCAN. Prior to working at TennesseeCAN, Jordan served as the Director of Government Relations at the Beacon Center of Tennessee. At Beacon, he worked on four main issues: education, healthcare, property rights and economic opportunity.
Jordan received his law degree from the Nashville School of Law. He is a member of the Cooper’s Inn Honor Society for graduating in the top 10% of his class. He received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he served as the President of the Student Government Association.
After living in Nashville for several years, Jordan and his wife, Lily, now live in Martin, Tennessee with their two dogs, Max and Sadie.
I aspire to be like George Mason. Here’s why:
George Mason had an unwavering dedication to protecting individual rights. His authorship of the Virginia Declaration of Rights set a powerful precedent, emphasizing the fundamental freedoms that should belong to every person. Mason’s insistence on including a bill of rights in the U.S. Constitution demonstrated his deep commitment to safeguarding liberties against potential government overreach. His refusal to ratify the 1787 Constitution without these protections shows the courage of his convictions and his willingness to stand firm for principles, even in the face of significant opposition.
Why I love my job:
There’s nothing better than knowing your work leads to a better education for students, especially in my home state. I get to work with people of all different backgrounds who have a common goal.
My connection to public schools:
I spent my entire life in public schools in rural West Tennessee. It provided me with a foundation that I still rely on. My maternal grandmother spent many years teaching students, although she was not formally a teacher by training. She worked in the reading intervention program, and at the same time, tutored students at her house. She taught countless students the ability to read. She was a steadfast believer in the power of a good education.
What I’m bad at:
Saying no. I like to be everything to everyone.
This image represents why I work at 50CAN:
This picture represents my big dream of arguing a case before the Supreme Court of the United States one day. To accomplish anything, you’ve got to have a great education. At 50CAN, we’re working to make sure students have a world class education, so that they can achieve their own big dream.