Rev. Dr. Meloney C. Jordan
Rev. Dr. Meloney C. Jordan is a distinguished African Studies scholar, interdisciplinary educator, and anti-racism advocate who brings a powerful blend of academic rigor, lived experience, and community-centered leadership to the field of Africana Studies. A Ph.D.
graduate of Howard University, Dr. Jordan is the Founder and Director of The Black Sanctuary Inc., a groundbreaking educational nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices, histories, and knowledge systems of the African and African Diaspora communities through an authentic insider perspective.
Dr. Jordan’s academic interests explore the intersections of race, existence, identity, gender, philosophy, and religion, particularly as they relate to African and African Diaspora experiences. Her research focuses on reappraising Black History and African Studies to uncover the underrepresented value of Black existence and reframe global historical narratives. She has served as a lecturer at Howard University and holds over 17 years of teaching experience in K–12 education, primarily within urban schools where her work impacted students often labeled “at-risk.”
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Jordan’s journey is one of resilience and determination. Despite growing up in poverty and navigating systemic racial inequities, she became the first in her family to graduate college. Inspired by educators and mentors who recognized her brilliance early on, Dr. Jordan pursued higher education with purpose, ultimately earning an MBA, a Master of Arts in Practical Theology, and a Ph.D. in African Studies.
At The Black Sanctuary Inc., she develops accessible educational programming for communities historically denied equitable access to Africana knowledge. Her platform bridges academic and public scholarship, featuring multimedia content, interactive lectures, and scholarly collaborations aimed at restoring dignity to historically marginalized narratives. Through initiatives like Empower Hour, she fosters public engagement in university-level discourse on Africanity, Black identity, and decolonial theory.
Dr. Jordan’s contributions extend beyond the classroom through her scholarly presentations, mentoring, and advisory roles in graduate research. She has presented at international forums like the Oxford Colloquy and received prestigious awards such as the Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship, through which she studied Arabic and Amharic.