13/01/2026
Vale Sr Deirdre Jordan AC MBE
The President & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Stirling, has made the following statement -
It is with great sadness that I share that Flinders’ longest serving Chancellor, Sister Deirdre Jordan has passed away, aged 99.
On behalf of Flinders, I extend our condolences to her family and all who knew her.
Sister Jordan’s association with Flinders University spanned almost 40 years, beginning as a Foundation Council member in 1966, followed by seven years as Pro-Chancellor, before her appointment as Chancellor from 1988 to 2002.
During her 14-years in the position, she became one of Australia’s longest-serving university chancellors and the university honoured her with the title ‘Chancellor Emeritus’ upon retirement.
Also awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from Flinders University in 1986, Sister Jordan was a remarkable leader whose vision and dedication helped shape the university into who we are today. Her tenure as Chancellor was marked by integrity, pragmatism, and a deep commitment to community service.
I thank Sister Jordan for her guiding influence during Flinders’ formative years. Her legacy lives on through the organisations and people she inspired, as well as our student accommodation village that bears her name.