Gertrude W. Jordan, New Director Of Illinois Dept. Of Employment Security

Jet, May 15, 2000

Gertrude W. Jordan, a top state administrator and former regional head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, recently was confirmed by the Illinois Senate as director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

Jordan was appointed to the Cabinet post by Gov. George H. Ryan.

As IDES director, Jordan is responsible for a department of 2,100 employees, serving the public at 56 Illinois Employment and Training Centers statewide. The department administers the state's Unemployment Insurance Program, which last year paid more than $1.1 billion in jobless benefits to unemployed workers.

During her 30-year career in public service, Jordan has held key policymaking positions at the federal, state and local levels, impacting issues of employment, public housing and human resource management. In 1985 Jordan was named Midwest Regional Administrator/Housing Commissioner of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and served in that capacity during the administrations of two U.S. presidents.

A native of Pensacola, FL, Jordan currently resides in Chicago.