Dr. Jordan Alston graduated from the University of Maryland’s Bowie State University in 2003 with a B.S. in Sociology and in 2005 with an M.A. in counseling psychology. She later earned her Doctorate of Education in counseling/psychology in 2010. Dr. Alston is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and a certified peer recovery specialist (CPRS).
Her impactful work has garnered attention from major media outlets, including CNN’s Lisa Ling, American Journalist Roland Martin, and FOX. She was formerly the Dean of Students at the SEED Public Charter School of Washington, DC, a role highlighted in the HBO documentary “Waiting for Superman” in 2010. Dr. Alston’s accomplishments have also been featured in publications such as Forbes and the Washington Informer.
Dr. Alston is the founder of Jordan Peer Recovery and a tenured professor at the University of Maryland’s Bowie State University. She previously served as the Executive Director of Organizational Excellence for Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas. Driven by personal experiences, including the loss of family members and friends, she founded the Grief and Loss Centers of America, providing support to individuals facing grief and loss.
As the CEO of Peerfinity, LLC, Dr. Alston leads a company specializing in personalized, culturally responsive, tech-enabled peer support for those dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Her company has also played a crucial role in COVID-19 tele-support responses.
Dr. Alston’s expertise extends to culturally responsive practices, as she has taught multicultural counseling for over a decade and presented internationally on race relations. She advocates for diversity and training in the peer recovery and behavioral health fields, having developed a proprietary educational system for cultural responsiveness used by agencies across the U.S.
She has been actively combating the opioid epidemic, providing expert testimony to the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2019.
Additionally, Dr. Alston is a subject matter expert on youth mental health and has advised on the overhaul of the juvenile justice system, emphasizing diversion programs and support services for justice-impacted individuals.