Introducing Difference Maker Mentor: Haley Jordan

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Haley (right, red life jacket) goes sailing for the first time

 

 

Hi! My name is Haley Jordan (she/her) and I’m a Difference Maker Mentor for the 2025-2026 CAP Program! I’m going into my junior year as a natural resources major concentrating in fisheries and wildlife, with a minor in ecology and evolutionary biology!

 

 

 

 

 

Haley in high school working to map invasive water chestnut

 

 

In high school, my wildlife biology teacher connected me with the NRCA in the form of the now-retired CTP program (https://nrca.uconn.edu/ctp/). She partnered with me to make a project removing European Water Chestnut from a pond in my city, sparking my interest in invasive plants, environmental management, and how to use technology to track environmental data (see the StoryMap on our project here). The project was a bright spot in a bleak time period; it was 2020-2021, and I was attending classes online.

 

 

 

 

Performing with the UConn Marching Band

 

 

Now, here at UConn, I am always learning and growing. Whether that’s picking up a new instrument, taking a difficult class, or just trying something new, I’m always up for an adventure. I found out in the spring that I love rock climbing!

I don’t know what my end goal is for my career and education, and that’s okay. Right now, my goal is to be a park ranger or guide, but who knows where the future will take me. My plan is to focus on enjoying my college experience until then.