Adelphi Alumnus Honored with Highest Award at the U.S. Census Bureau

Matthew Jordan ’07

Adelphi Graduate Matt Jordan ’07 Advances Voter Language Assistance Nationwide, Pivotal in Last Election

Matthew Jordan, a 2007 Adelphi graduate and All-American swimmer, was honored with the prestigious Bronze Medal Award for “superior federal service;” the highest honorary recognition awarded by the U.S. Census Bureau. The award is given for superior performance of assigned tasks and for significant contributions affecting major programs within the U.S. Census Bureau, including the demonstration of unusual initiative in the development and improvement of methods and procedures.

Jordan, a Mathematical Statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau, was recognized with his research team for outstanding contributions to voter language assistance that was used to support non-English speakers with voting in this past election. The duration of the project took 8 months and advanced language assistance for national voting needs.  The team used the 2010 Census data and the American Community Survey to determine which jurisdictions nationwide needed language assistance for voters, per the Voting Rights Act.  The team also improved the accuracy and efficiency of the data through combining “regression type” estimates with direct estimates.

Jordan determined that his own hometown county of Nassau was one of the jurisdictions that required voter language assistance for Spanish-speakers. Translators or ballots in different languages are examples of voter language assistance.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be recognized with the Bronze Medal. I’m even more honored to have had the opportunity to help many citizens exercise their basic, fundamental right to vote in this past election” Jordan says.

Jordan has worked as a Mathematical Statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau for three years. He graduated an “All-American” swimmer from Adelphi University with an undergraduate degree in mathematics and C.W. Post with a graduate degree in applied mathematics. He was a Lieutenant Lifeguard for six of Nassau County’s pools including North Woodmere Park, Eisenhower Park, Cantiague Park, and Christopher Morley Park. Jordan currently lives in Vienna, Virginia but returns home on holidays and throughout the year to visit with his parents, grandmother, and friends in Valley Stream.