The University of Pittsburgh School of Law has announced a $1 million commitment from alumnus Greg Jordan (LAW ’84) and Ellen Jordan to establish the Greg and Ellen Jordan Fund for Business, Banking and Financial Regulation.
The fund will provide support for strategic initiatives at Pitt Law, including an annual speaker series, innovative programming, faculty hiring, externships, research, and curriculum development focused on corporate, business, financial regulation and banking law. The fund will enable the School of Law to respond to emerging opportunities and invest in areas of greatest impact.
Jordan (pictured) is chair of the Highmark Health Board of Directors, a director of MSA Safety and vice chairman of The PNC Financial Services Group, where he retired in 2024 as the company’s general counsel and chief administrative officer after a distinguished 40-year legal career. During his tenure at PNC, he played a central role in major transactions, including the transformative BBVA USA acquisition, and oversaw key corporate functions, including ethics, communications and marketing as well as the PNC Foundation and enterprise change management. Prior to joining PNC, Jordan served as global managing partner at Reed Smith, leading its expansion into a global firm with 25 offices.
“Ellen and I are happy to support Pitt Law with this gift because of the positive impact Pitt has had on our lives. It is especially meaningful to support the law school now that it is led by Dean Jerry Dickinson, a real star, and to reflect on our work together at Reed Smith during my time there,” Jordan said.
Jordan earned his JD cum laude in 1984 and was a member of Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He has received numerous honors, including designation as a University of Pittsburgh Legacy Laureate and the prestigious 225 Medallion, among the University’s highest alumni distinctions. He also served as the keynote speaker for Pitt Law’s 2025 commencement ceremony.
“Greg was my first boss at Reed Smith LLP years ago, when he was global managing partner. Then, as now, Greg was a committed mentor to many young lawyers and deeply invested in strengthening Pittsburgh’s institutions — from Reed Smith to PNC Bank, to Highmark and many others,” Dean Jerry Dickinson said. “This gift reflects his commitment to Pitt Law, his alma mater, and his desire to ensure that the institution continues to rise as a national beacon of excellence in business law, banking and financial regulation.”