Jordan Costa is a doctoral fellow at New Jersey’s Center on Gun Violence Research (NJGVRC) and a PhD candidate in the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers — Newark. Her research primarily focuses on structural violence, community-led violence reduction strategies, and the working conditions and well-being of violence intervention specialists. Her contributions in these areas earned her the “Equity and Justice Award” at the National Research Conference on Firearm-Related Harms, alongside several awards for her research endeavors. Before her academic career began, Costa was actively involved in service provision, assisting young men through hospital-based violence intervention programs, and tutoring in jails and prisons in the DC metropolitan area. Her experiences in these roles led to her involvement in the 2021 documentary Life After the Gunshot, which she co-produced to highlight the stories of survivors in the aftermath of violent injury.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Costa serves as senior project manager for the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention. Her role involves uplifting community-led violence intervention and prevention initiatives and advocating for sustainable funding. Her career embodies a holistic approach, integrating research, direct service, and advocacy deeply rooted in her personal history of losing a parent to gun violence