Emmett V. Jordan, the incumbent mayor, has been a Greenbelt resident for 23 years. He relocated to the area to work with the University of Maryland in 1998. Attracted by the city’s convenient location and abundant recreational amenities, he moved to the Greenbriar Condominiums.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he studied liberal arts and music at Morehouse College and at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in urban administration. He furthered his education with additional graduate coursework in public administration at Seton Hall University. Jordan participated in the UM Legacy Leadership Institute on Municipal Government in 2008 and completed an Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Fellowship in 2011. He frequently attends workshops and conferences to stay well-informed about issues impacting Greenbelt.
Jordan holds the distinction of being the first African American elected to council in 2009.
Currently, Jordan serves on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Maryland Municipal League. He is past president of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association. He works hard to maintain productive relationships with representatives from surrounding municipal, county, state and federal governments. These external relationships provide a platform to advocate for the best interests of Greenbelt.
Jordan’s career spans more than three decades of experience in planning and implementing capacity building programs for organizations. Since 2005, he has worked as an independent contractor, providing professional services focused on marketing, communications, strategic planning and fund development. He has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution, University of Maryland at College Park, Plainfield Neighborhood Health Center and the United Negro College Fund.
Before 2009, Jordan served as a member of the city’s Advisory Planning Board, where he led an initiative to develop a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Greenbelt. He has been a board member for the Greenbriar Condominiums Association, Phase I and served as the chair for the Greenbelt Community Foundation Board. Additionally, he co-chaired the Urban Roundtable, an auxiliary organization affiliated with the Greater Washington Urban League.
An energetic and active person, Jordan enjoys attending concerts, art exhibits and cultural programs. His favorite pastimes include spending time outdoors around Greenbelt, playing tennis, bicycling and playing the guitar.