Elijah Jordan joins the SHARC team as a data analyst. Elijah took some time to tell us about his career path and to share a glimpse of his life away from campus.
Tell us about your educational background.
I graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2016 with a mathematics degree with a teaching concentration. Also, earlier this year I received my Master of Science in Business Analytics with a marketing concentration from Northeastern University.
Tell us about your previous work/research experience.
My first job out of college was a cost estimator for the Department of Defense where I estimated how much it would cost to upgrade security on Air Force bases worldwide. I was in that role for 3.5 years before moving on to a pharmaceutical company based outside of Boston where I worked as a sales operations analyst, essentially conducting ad hoc reports for whomever needed it (leadership, marketing, finance, etc.). Before taking the data manager position with SHARC, I was an account manager for a digital media marketing company based out of Providence, RI.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My favorite free time activity is chilling on the couch with my partner and dogs binge-watching our favorite shows. When I decide to be a little more active, I enjoy playing tennis, going on nature walks, and exploring all the happy hour deals around Gainesville.
Do you have a favorite pet?
It’s hard to choose between both of my dogs, Eddie and Dezzy, so I’m going to say both of them are my favorite pets (but if I’m being honest, Dezzy is the much calmer, much easier dog to take care of…).
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m not sure if the Trivia Crack mobile game is still popular, but I was once ranked #1 in Georgia in the Meryl Streep category.
Who inspires you?
Dolly Parton. I’m not sure that it needs much explanation, but her kindness, humility, charitableness, and ability to bring together people with totally opposite backgrounds is inspiring to me. Not to mention Dollywood is my favorite place on earth and if you haven’t been, you should look into it!
If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
I would definitely pay off any debt for myself and my family first. Then I would buy a couple of vacation homes (one in the mountains, one at the beach), attend all four grand slam tennis tournaments, and invest whatever is left.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
My dad always says “everything works out in the end.” He’s been right so far and it has gotten me through many stressful/difficult times.