- Executive Director, Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
- Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women
Carol E. Jordan
Carol E. Jordan currently serves as the founding Executive Director of the University of Kentucky Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women in the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds faculty appointments in the Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Political Science. Before assuming her current position, she served for ten years as founding director of the UK Center for Research on Violence Against Women at the university. Jordan also serves as a Senior Policy Consultant for the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (state association of battered women’s shelters) and the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (state association of rape crisis centers).
Jordan has authored three books, nine book chapters and over 40 peer reviewed articles on violence against women, particularly focusing on civil and criminal justice issues related to rape, domestic violence, and stalking; the victimization of college women; and the history of legislative reform on violence against women. Jordan has managed grants totaling more than $3.5 million and since coming to UK has built a $6.5 million research endowment on violence against women for the university. Additionally, she has created a Women’s Empowerment Scholarship to aid abuse survivors in accessing higher education as a tool for overcoming the experience of violence.
Jordan has years almost 40 years of experience in public policy, legislative advocacy, research and writing, and the development of programs addressing intimate partner violence, rape and stalking. Following graduate school, she held her first position in a domestic violence shelter and went on to serve as the first director of a statewide sexual and domestic violence program in the Department for Mental Health. While in the Department, she helped expand the number of rape crisis centers in Kentucky from four to thirteen. In 1996 she was recruited by Governor Paul E. Patton to serve as the founding executive director for the Governor’s Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Services, a position she held for eight years. During her time in the Governor’s Office, funding for domestic violence programs and rape crisis centers increased 42% and 129%, respectively. A primary focus of Jordan’s career has been advancing legislative reform. She has authored or co-authored 30 pieces of legislation while working in Frankfort. In 2002, Jordan worked with a faculty advisory committee to create the University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence against Women, and served as its founding director from 2003 until 2014.
Jordan has been recognized nationally with the Paul H. Chapman Award from the National Foundation for the Improvement of Justice and by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. She has also received awards from the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, the Kentucky Rape Crisis Centers, the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, the Kentucky Psychological Association, and the Kentucky General Assembly for her work. In 2005, she was honored with the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award for Outstanding Contributions On Behalf of Women by the University of Kentucky and in 2012 she received the William E. Lyons Award for Outstanding Service from UK’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration and the Department of Political Science. In 2010 she was awarded a Presidential Proclamation by Texas A&M University, and in 2013 she received the Woman’s Legacy Award from the university for her work on behalf of women. In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alum for Texas A&M University.
Areas of Writing and Research Interest
- Civil and criminal justice issues related to violence against women
- U.S. and Kentucky legislative history of addressing rape, domestic violence, and stalking
- Policy development related to violence against women
- Mental health effects of violence against women
- The victimization of college women
Books
Jordan, C.E. (2014). Violence Against Women in Kentucky: A History of U.S. and State Legislative Reform. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky.
Jordan, C.E., Nietzel, M.T., Walker, R., & Logan, TK. (2004). Intimate Partner Violence: A Clinical Training Guide for Mental Health Professionals. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
Logan, TK, Walker, R., Jordan, C.E., & Leukefeld, C. (2006). Women and victimization: Contributing factors, interventions, and implications. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association Press
Book Chapters
Jordan, C.E. (in press). Domestic violence: Forensic implications of intimate partner victimization. In J. Payne-James, R. Byard, T. Corey, & C. Henderson (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Second Edition. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Ltd.
Jordan, C.E. (in press). The mental health effects of rape and intimate partner violence on adult women. In H. Friedman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Mental Health, Second Edition. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Ltd
Jordan, C.E. (2013). Intimate partner violence: Implications for the Domestic Relations Practitioner. Kentucky Domestic Relations Handbook, 2nd Edition. Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky College of Law
Jordan, C.E. (2010). Intimate Partner Violence: Strategic Safety Planning. In B. Fisher & S. Lab (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Coker, A.L., Williams, C.M., Follingstad, D., & Jordan, C.E. (2010). Psychological, reproductive and maternal health, behavioral and economic impact. In M. Koss & J. White (Eds.), Violence Against Women and Children: Consensus, Critical Analyses, and Emergent Priorities, Washington, DC: APA Publications.
Jordan, C.E. (2006). Intimate partner violence: Implications for the Domestic Relations Practitioner. Kentucky Domestic Relations Handbook. Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky College of Law
Jordan, C.E. (2005). Domestic violence: Forensic implications of intimate partner victimization. In J. Payne-James, R. Byard, T. Corey, & C. Henderson (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine, (223-229) Oxford, UK: Elsevier Ltd.
Jordan, C.E., Gleason, M., Hosea, K., & Sexton, M. (Eds.). (2003). Civil remedies for women victimized by violence: A practice manual for attorneys.University of Kentucky College of Law.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Dennis, A.L., & Jordan, C.E. (in press). Encouraging victims: Responding to a recent study of battered women who commit crimes. William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jordan, C.E., Combs, J.L., & Smith, G.T. (2014). An exploration of victimization and academic performance among college women. Trauma, Violence & Abuse: A Review Journal.
Combs, J.L., Jordan, C.E., & Smith, G.T. (2013). Individual differences in personality predict externalizing versus internalizing outcomes following sexual assault. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. doi: 10.1037/a0032978
Pritchard, A.J., Jordan, C.E., & Wilcox, P. (2013). Safety concerns, fear, and precautionary behavior among college women: An exploratory examination of two measures of residency. Security Journal. doi: 10.1057/sj.2012.39
Jordan, C.E., Clark, J.J., Pritchard, A.J., & Charnigo, R. (2012). Lethal and other serious assaults: Disentangling gender and context. Crime and Delinquency, 58, 425 – 455.
Jordan, C.E. (2011). Building academic research centers to advance research on violence against women: An empirical foundation. Violence Against Women, 11(9), 1123 - 1136.
Jordan, C.E. (2011). The University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women: Bringing women’s stories to the advancement of science. Violence Against Women, 11(9), 1137 – 1158.
Jordan, C.E., Pritchard, A., Duckett, D., & Charnigo, R. (2010). Criminal offending among respondents to protective orders: Crime types and patterns that predict victim risk. Violence Against Women, 16, 12, 1396 – 1411.
Jordan, C.E., Pritchard, A.J., Duckett, D., Wilcox, P., Corey, T., & Combest, M. (2010). Relationship and injury trends in the homicide of women across the lifespan: A research note. Homicide Studies, 14(2), 181-192.
Jordan, C.E., Campbell, R., & Follingstad, D. (2010). Violence and women’s mental health: The impact of physical, sexual and psychological aggression.Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, (6), 607-628.
Jordan, C.E. (2009). Violence and Women’s Mental Health: The Pain Unequalled. Part Two. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal, 10(4), 303 – 305.
Jordan, C.E. (2009). Violence and Women’s Mental Health: The Pain Unequalled: Part One. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal, 10, 195 – 197.
Briere, J., & Jordan, C.E. (2009). Childhood maltreatment, intervening variables, and adult psychological difficulties in women: An overview. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal, 10(4), 375 – 388.
Jordan, C.E. (2009). Advancing the study of violence against women: Evolving research agendas into science. Violence Against Women, 15, 393 – 419.
Jordan, C.E. (2009). Advancing the study of violence against women: Response to commentaries and next steps. Violence Against Women, 15, 440 – 442.
Jordan, C.E., Pritchard, A., Wilcox, P., & Duckett-Pritchard, D. (2008). The denial of emergency protection: Factors associated with court decision-making. Violence and Victims, 23(5), 603 – 616.
Wilcox, P., Jordan, C.E., Pritchard, A., & Randa, R. (2008). Rurality-urbanism and protective order service: A research note. Journal of Crime & Justice, 31, 66 – 87.
Jordan, C.E., Wilcox, P., & Pritchard, A. (2007). Stalking acknowledgement and reporting among college women experiencing intrusive behaviors: Implications for the emergence of a “classic stalking case”. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35(5), 556-569.
Jordan, C.E. (2007). The health implications of violence against women: Untangling the complexities of acute and chronic effects: Part Two. Trauma, Violence and Abuse: A Review Journal, 8(3), 243 – 245.
Jordan, C.E. (2007). The health implications of violence against women: Untangling the complexities of acute and chronic effects: Part One. Trauma, Violence and Abuse: A Review Journal, 8(2), 87 – 89.
Wilcox, P., Jordan, C.E., & Pritchard, A.J. (2007). A multidimensional examination of campus safety: Victimization, perception of danger, worry about crime, and precautionary behavior among college women in the post-Clery era. Crime & Delinquency, 53(3), 1-36.
Modesitt, S.C., Gambrell, A., Cottrill, H.M., Hays, L.R., Walker, R., Shelton, B., Jordan, C.E., & Ferguson, J.E. (2006). The adverse impact of a history of violence for women with breast, cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 107(6), 1330 – 1336.
Wilcox, P., Jordan, C.E., & Pritchard, A.J. (2006). Fear of acquaintance versus stranger rape as a master status: Towards refinement of the shadow of sexual assault. Violence and Victims, 21 (3), 355 – 370.
Logan, TK, Evans, L., Stevenson, & Jordan, C.E. (2005). Barriers to services for rural and urban rape survivors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence (20), 591-616
Jordan, C.E. (2004). Intimate partner violence and the justice system: An examination of the interface. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 1412-1434.
Jordan, C.E. (2004). Toward a national research agenda on violence against women: Continuing the dialogue on research and practice, Part 2. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(12), 1365-1368.
Jordan, C.E. (2004). Toward a national research agenda on violence against women: Continuing the dialogue on research and practice, Part 1. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(11), 1205 - 1209.
Briere, J., & Jordan, C.E. (2004). Violence against women: Outcome complexity and implications for treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(12), 1252 – 1282.
Logan, TK, Walker, R., Jordan, C.E., & Campbell, J. (2004). An integrative review of separation in the context of victimization: Consequences and implications for women. Journal of Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 5(2), 143 – 193.
Jordan, C.E., Logan, TK., Walker, R., & Nigoff, A. (2003). Stalking: An examination of the criminal justice response. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(2) 148 – 165.
Logan, TK, Nigoff, A., Walker, R., & Jordan, C.E. (2002). Stalker profiles with and without protective orders: Do protective orders make a difference in reoffending or criminal justice processing? Violence and Victims, 17(5), 541 - 553.
Logan, TK, Walker, R., Jordan, C.E., & Horvath, L.S. (2002). Child custody evaluations and domestic violence: Case comparisons. Violence and Victims, 17(6), 719 – 742.
Jordan, C.E., Quinn, K., Jordan, B., & Daileader, C.R. (2000). Stalking: Cultural, clinical and legal considerations. Brandeis Journal of Family Law, 38(3) 513-579.
Jordan, C.E. & Walker, R. (1994). Implementing domestic violence standards of practice for community mental health centers. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 45(2) 147 - 151.
Shechet, A., & Jordan, C. (1993). The Kentucky post-trauma response team: Development of a statewide crisis response capability. Handbook of Post Disaster Interventions, 8(5) 267 - 280.
Sigelman, D., Jordan-Berry, C., & Wiles, K. (1984). Violence in college students’ dating relationships. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 14(6) 53 - 548.
Rholes, W., Blackwell, J., Jordan, C., & Walters, C. (1980). A developmental study of learned helplessness. Developmental Psychology, 16, 616 - 624.
Other Publications
Jordan, C.E. (2004). Intimate partner violence and the justice system. Reprinted in Freeman, M. (Ed). (2008). Domestic violence. The Family, Law & Society, London: Ashgate Publishing.
Jordan, C.E., Hughes, E.S., & Gleason, M.J. (2005). Criminal prosecution and civil remedies for victims of sexual offenses: amendment of the rape shield law. The Bench and Bar, 69(2)
Jordan, C.E. (2005). Stalking victimization: The justice system response to the crime. Kentucky Law Enforcement News, 4(1), 40-41.
Jordan, C.E., & Isaac, S. (2002). The state of the women judiciary of the Commonwealth. Bench and Bar, 66 (2), 31 – 34.
Jordan, C.E. (2001). Violence Against Women: A health and mental health concern. Women’s Health Report, Office of Women’s Health and Mental Health, Kentucky Health Services Cabinet.
Jordan, C.E. (1999). Violence against women. In Smith-Mello, Childress, Sollinger, & Sebastian (Eds.) The Future Well-Being of Women in Kentucky. (107 – 114). Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center, Frankfort, Kentucky.
Jordan, C.E., & K. Quinn. (1998). Kentucky domestic violence and abuse act: Civil remedies for victims. The Bench and Bar 62 (1) 11 - 18.