SC State honors grad charts new course in dentistry, grounded in her Bulldog experience
Dual-degree graduate and published researcher Victoria Jordan will attend Meharry Medical College with a mission to expand access to care.
This fall, the Fort Mill, South Carolina, native will take that momentum to Meharry
Medical College, where she’ll begin preparing for a career in dentistry with a clear
focus: expanding access to care in communities too often overlooked.
Jordan, a magna cum laude graduate of the Class of 2025, will enter Meharry’s Master
of Health Sciences program before pursuing a Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS). She
was also accepted to Duke University, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC),
and Baylor University but chose Meharry because of its historic commitment to serving
underserved populations.
“Choosing Meharry Medical College is about more than continuing my education —it’s
about carrying forward the legacy of Black excellence in healthcare and becoming the
provider I once needed,” Jordan said. “As I prepare for this next chapter, I do so
with faith, Bulldog tenacity, and an unshakable commitment to serving my community.
SC State will forever be home, and I will always be proud to be a product of this
university.”
Jordan graduates with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry and
a résumé that reflects both intellectual rigor and meaningful service. She served
as president of the Dr. Emily E. Clyburn Honors College and earned distinction as
a 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholar and a White House HBCU Scholar. She was the youngest
African American woman from SC State and MUSC to be published in a major scientific
journal for her cancer research.
On campus, she took on leadership beyond the lab. Jordan served as Miss Junior Elect,
president of D.O.L.L.S. (Dedicated Ladies Living Strong), and president of the Health
Professions Society. She worked as a 2024 VoteHBCU Fellow to promote civic engagement
through partnerships with the NAACP and Black Voters Matter. She was also active in
the National Council of Negro Women, the NAACP, and SC State’s Student Orientation
Leader program.
“She embodies the mission and spirit of South Carolina State University,” said Dr.
David Staten, associate provost for academic affairs. “Her extraordinary academic
accomplishments, leadership, and service reflect the very best of what it means to
be a scholar-leader. We are immensely proud of her and excited to see her impact the
world of healthcare.”
For Jordan, SC State was more than a launchpad — it was a community that helped her
define who she wanted to become.
“I’m incredibly grateful to South Carolina State University for shaping me into the
scholar and leader I am today,” she said. “SC State gave me more than an education
— it gave me purpose, confidence, and a family. From the classrooms of Leroy Davis
Hall and Hodge Hall to the Honors College, every moment here pushed me to dream bigger,
lead boldly, and serve with intention.”
She credits her mentors for helping her grow into her potential.
“To the professors who challenged me, the faculty and staff who supported me, and
the alumni who poured into me — thank you for seeing something in me and helping me
grow into it,” Jordan said. “Your guidance and encouragement have made all the difference.”
With a future aimed at addressing dental care disparities and serving with intention,
Jordan leaves SC State with the clarity and commitment to make her next chapter matter
— just as she made the most of her Bulldog experience.