JORDAN REDEKOP-JONES (she/her)

What brought you to KPU and your program of study?

I decided to attend KPU after spending a few years at Langara College. I knew I wanted to study English Literature, but wasn’t quite sure where it could take me. After completing a Diasporic literature course in 2022 with Dr. Gillian Bright, I was met with a new sense of ease and confidence in pursuing the idea of teaching at the post secondary level. Once the idea of becoming a professor and scholar was established, I was met with a lot of incredible support from my professors at KPU.

Can you briefly describe your current position and your main day to day responsibilities?

Currently, I am an MA English literature student at Simon Fraser University, as well as a published writer and Research Assistant.
Throughout the year I take classes, conduct scholarly research as well as work on my creative writing.
In March of this year, I put out my debut chapbook with Anstruther Press called Hybridity as a Phantom Body and have been fortunate enough as to have been a recipient of writing awards including a 2024 Indigenous Voices Award in the Unpublished Poetry Category, the 2024 Austin Clarke prize in Literary Excellence for Poetry and the 2025 CBC Poetry Prize. Besides taking classes, every day looks different for me as I continue to work on new projects.

Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from KPU have been most valuable in your career so far?

KPU was and is still fundamental in believing that my individual voice and story is worth knowing and telling. My professors in the English program are still integral in motivating me to continue to publish and share my work on a larger scale. Even though it’s been several years since I graduated, I know I can always count on them for advice. Working in community is something that is so valuable to me and without the KPU English program, I’m not sure that I would be as motivated to do all the things that I am right now. My professors have never led me to believe that my goals and ambitions were too large and continue to help pave the way for me to gain all the experience I need going forward.

What advice would you give current KPU students who want to build a successful career after graduation?

The advice I would give is to be curious. Be curious about all the things that life has to offer. Take it from someone who had no idea what she wanted to do not that long ago. Choose classes that genuinely interest you, even if they are not in your major. You might be surprised what passions you will find hiding in plain sight. As for having a successful career, choose something you love and that feeds your soul. Walk through the doors that are open for you and continue through additional ones that truly align with you.
It is important to recognize how short and precious life really is and by doing so, you’ll quickly understand that it can’t be wasted doing something that anyone else can be doing. Celebrate your unique scope on the world and the work you do. It is more necessary than you know. Remember that success is different for everyone, but if what you do makes you happy even on the hardest days, then I would say you have accomplished such a feat.