SACSCOC’s Dr. Sandra Jordan Receives NCAA Meritorious Service Award
DECATUR, Ga. – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) proudly congratulates Dr. Sandra Jordan, chief of staff and vice president, on receiving the NCAA Meritorious Service Award.
Presented on March 28 by the Peach Belt Conference, the award recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and service to intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Jordan was honored for her extensive contributions at the national level, including serving as chair of the NCAA Division II Presidents Council, as a member of the NCAA Board of Governors, and as chair of the Peach Belt Conference Presidents Council.
SACSCOC Chief of Staff and USCA Distinguished Chancellor Emerita Dr. Sandra Jordan received the National Collegiate Athletic Association Meritorious Service Award, presented by Peach Belt Conference Commissioner Diana Kling on March 28. Image Credit: Talbert Mustapher / USCA
She was recognized for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the NCAA’s highest governing body, where she played a critical role in guiding national policy decisions on health and safety, eligibility, and financial challenges for institutions and student-athletes.
Dr. Jordan has served as SACSCOC’s chief of staff and vice president since 2021, where she plays a central role in advancing the Commission’s strategic priorities, supporting institutional engagement, and strengthening its accreditation, policy, and member services work.
Her connection to SACSCOC spans more than three decades, having first served on an On-Site Committee in 1989. She later served on the SACSCOC Board of Directors and Executive Council and chaired the Principles Review Committee, contributing to the development and refinement of accreditation standards and practices. She is also the 2018 recipient of SACSCOC’s highest honor, the James T. Rogers Distinguished Leadership Award for extraordinarily distinctive and effective leadership.
Before joining SACSCOC, Dr. Jordan served as chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken from 2012 to 2021, guiding the institution through a period of significant growth, innovation, and national recognition. Her broader career includes senior academic leadership roles as provost and vice president for academic affairs at multiple institutions, with a consistent focus on institutional effectiveness, student success, and strategic planning. She remains the university’s Distinguished Chancellor Emerita.
“Dr. Jordan’s leadership reflects her lifelong commitment to students and to the principles that strengthen higher education,” said SACSCOC President Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt. “This recognition is a testament to the impact she has made across institutions, in athletics governance, and within SACSCOC itself.”
About SACSCOC
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is a recognized accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the United States and around the world. SACSCOC serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions it accredits, ensuring educational quality, institutional effectiveness, and continuous improvement. Through accreditation, SACSCOC supports institutions in their mission to provide high-quality education and to serve students and communities.
Read More: Parts of this story were contributed by Leslie Hull-Ryde / USCA. Read more from the University of South Carolina Aiken here.
SACSCOC Media Contact:
Eric Mann
Director of Public Information
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
emann@sacscoc.org | 404-994-6576