Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Jordan Stidham '16, MBA '19

By Stephanie D. Overton

In recent years, a spotlight has shined on helping students with critical needs that stand between them and the opportunities a university degree can bring.

“Education is what saved me from repeating the cycle of poverty. Radford is the place that made me feel at home enough to push through the struggles of being a poor kid putting [myself] through school,” said Radford graduate Jordan Stidham ’16, MBA ’19.

I grew up in a family where I was one of five kids,” Stidham said. “For a large portion of my early life, my mother was on her own. We lived in government housing and made ends meet with government assistance. My mother has a heart of gold and will give you the shirt off her back, and many times she did that to help me get through college.

For first-generation college students, the need for support often begins in high school. While some students are making campus visits, others lack the resources. Stidham was “one of the kids that fell through the cracks,” but he was determined to get a college education. He was enrolled in community college when he learned about Radford University. He and his wife, Carley Stidham ’16, who he was dating at the time, both decided to attend Radford.

“Everywhere I turned, I met people that cared,” Stidham said of his arrival at Radford University.

“Even working three jobs, I struggled,” Stidham said. “My funding didn’t cover all my costs needed for the year. But every single time I would go to Financial Aid, and they found a way. Any time I went to my professors, they would help me. No matter what roadblock I hit, someone was there to care,” shared Stidham.

There was a pivotal moment in Stidham’s senior year when the lack of money threatened his goal to finish college.

“After paying my rent and power, I had maybe $10 left for a two-week period and no food,” Stidham said.

“My mom drove to Radford and used her remaining food stamps to buy me food. I remember her handing me her power bill money.

“After I finished my last final, I just cried. I called my fiancee and my mom, and all I could say was, ‘We did it.’”

Stidham graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and later an MBA.

After Radford, he worked as a cost accountant before moving to the nonprofit sector, where he managed the finances for Community Housing Partners (CHP).

“CHP builds and manages housing for lowincome and critical need families and individuals. I had literally come full circle in my life and was now working for a group that housed kids like me,” Stidham said.

He now serves as the director of finance and development at HOPE, Inc. in Wytheville, Virginia. HOPE houses the homeless, low-income families, critical-need populations and anyone else needing a roof over their heads. The nonprofit organization also runs Open Door Café, which feeds over 750 kids per week through its HOPE Packs program and provides over $6,000 per month in free food at the café.

“I broke the cycle of poverty and now work every day to feed and house people in need,” Stidham said.

He feels a strong commitment to the career path he has chosen and to helping other students overcome the barriers to a Radford education.

He and his wife have established a planned gift that will benefit new generations of Radford University students.

“We chose to give back to help the next kid – like me – get through. I know the barriers that people in poverty face, and I know the impact my support can make,” Stidham said.