In this inaugural spotlight to kick off a new monthly series highlighting Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) community members and their work, meet Jordan Shamas, who serves as the Climate of Healthy Interactions for Learning & Development (CHILD) lab manager. She has been at Yale and in this role for two years.
What led you to your current job?
Since my early high school years, I've always had a passion for ensuring others of all abilities and backgrounds had access to opportunities and education.
Although I've spent a significant amount of time working with adults with disabilities, I've found myself now excited to be really looking at the root of how we can ensure individual growth and opportunities are fair from the beginning—childhood. It's rewarding knowing our work benefits children and people of all backgrounds, even outside our country.
What energizes you outside of work?
I enjoy spending time at the beach, cooking, and watching/playing sports.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Outgoing, compassionate, funny.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Greece!
This spotlight series is a spin-off of a similar effort launched in 2023 to feature integrated business operations (IBO) and administration staff at the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), Department of Psychiatry, and Department of Pediatrics, All in the YCSC community are welcome (and encouraged) to nominate colleagues for this new spotlight series. Self-nominations are welcome.