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Jordan Peters ���14  

Political-science major and scholarship recipient Jordan Peters 織14 is quick to tell you that he appreciates the opportunities he���s found at Dickinson, and it���s clear that he���s made the most of them. In between classes and his duties as a member of the Blue Mountain Battalion ROTC, he���s found time to travel, conduct student-faculty research, complete an internship and volunteer through Dickinson���s community-service office.

���I grew up a block from a cornfield, and if you would have told me a few years ago that one day I���d tour the DMZ in Korea, teach English in the Marshall Islands, rappel from a helicopter or build a fence at an elementary school in Ecuador I wouldn���t have believed you,��� he says. ���But my time at Dickinson made all of that a reality.���

Major:

Political science.

Clubs and organizations:

Army ROTC, Dickinson service trips (student leader) and student-hearing panel advisor.

Favorite professor:

Professor [Andrew] Wolff. He���s my advisor, and after taking my first class with him freshman year I knew Dickinson was the right place for me. Professor Wolff has a way of bringing out the humor in something as serious as politics and international history.

Favorite class and/or learning experience:

Working as a research assistant for Professor [Jeffrey] McCausland. I researched everything from North Korean nuclear debates to the effects of economic sanctions on Iran.

In a perfect world . . .

. . . House of Cards would come out with a new season every day.

Most important thing I���ve learned so far:

That true leadership is serving others.

Post-Dickinson plans:

After graduation, I���ll spend seven years as an active-duty Army officer, half as an armor officer and half as a military-intelligence officer. After that, I���d like to go to law school and practice international law while staying in the Army Reserves.

As a kid, I wanted to be . . .

. . . the U.S. president, then Batman. Then a combination of the president and Batman.

Proudest accomplishment:

I���m the first member of my family to go to college, so earning a bachelor���s degree is a pretty big deal.

Favorite book:

All In, the David Petraeus biography.

Favorite movie:

Fight Club.

Favorite place on campus:

Denny 317, also known as the ���stained-glass window 娶棗棗鳥.���

Favorite Dining Hall food:

The thought of tri-taters (triangle-shaped hash browns) has gotten me through more than a few early-morning ROTC workouts.

Little-known talents:

I took six years of piano, and even though I���ve forgotten most of what I learned, I can still play ���F羹r Elise��� from memory.

If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be . . .

. . . Napoleon. I���d love to pick his brain about his political beliefs and military experiences.

On the worldwide classroom:

I didn���t study abroad, but I did spend a month in South Korea shadowing an Army platoon leader through an ROTC program. While there, I was able to visit the DMZ, tour Seoul and experience an interesting mix of Army and Korean cultures. I also took a Dickinson winter-break service trip to Ecuador, where I helped construct two rural elementary schools.

Biggest influence:

My cousin. His childhood was tough, but he was able to overcome those challenges and achieve amazing things, all while staying one of the humblest people I���ve ever met. 

Learn more

Peters takes part in the annual ROTC leadership training exercises: Controlling Chaos

Published March 18, 2014