A Journey to Success
Updated: Aug 18
The Big Easy native never intended to leave Louisiana for Ohio. Nor could Victoria Page Jordan envision that she would eventually make her way to Los Angeles as a senior manager for Paramount Pictures.
“I was a senior at Ursuline Academy in uptown New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina happened,” she recalled.
Ursuline schools across the country mobilized to help displaced students. Most could offer a classroom but not housing for both Jordan and her mother. One school did. St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati extended an offer that went beyond academics: a place for Victoria to finish her senior year, and housing next door for mother and daughter.
“That’s how we ended up in Cincinnati. We didn’t choose Cincinnati. It chose us.”
What began as temporary refuge became something far more lasting. Victoria graduated from St. Ursula deeply shaped by the generosity she had encountered there.
“They were so very gracious that I wanted to stay in Cincinnati,” she says today. “It opened my eyes.”
And when it came time to choose a college Xavier University felt like a natural continuation of that journey.
“Xavier aligned with the Jesuit values I grew up with—community service, education, all of it. That’s what really attracted me.”
Victoria also attracted new friends almost immediately.
“We met the first week of orientation at Xavier,” remembered classmate and good friend Adrienne Perry. “I liked her. She was a ray of sunshine.” Now Dr. Perry, she was impressed with the New Orleans native.
“Victoria has quite a presence. She has a commanding voice, and it works for her. She's always been very confident. Victoria really knew what she wanted out of life.”
Initially undecided on a major, Victoria knew she wanted to work in communications, a field broad enough to encompass media, marketing, publicity, and storytelling. A work-study position as an AV technician at the Cintas Center — one she held throughout college — quietly steered her toward Electronic Media, now known as Digital Innovation, Film and Television (DIFT).
Midway through her collegiate career, Professor Blis Devault arrived as director of the DIFT program, helping redefine what the department could be.
“Her passion made a difference,” Jordan says.
It was the program’s 48-hour student film challenges that brought everything into focus. Long nights spent shaping raw footage into finished stories revealed where she truly thrived.
“That’s when I realized I wanted to pursue a career as an editor.”
“Xavier’s program helped me gain more knowledge about what I can do in this industry,” Jordan said. “I discovered editing at Xavier. It allowed me to grow in an environment where help was available to me if needed to talk to someone in the program.”
Immediately after graduation in 2010, Victoria moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in the Video Symphony Post-Production Institute, an intensive 11-month program in Burbank. There, she trained on industry-standard software including Avid, Final Cut, After Effects, and Photoshop, cutting real television and feature film footage under the guidance of working editors.
“It was exactly where I needed to be,” she says. “That hands-on experience made all the difference.”
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Her first professional break came as a night assistant editor at Magical Elves, the production company behind Bravo’s Top Chef. From there, Jordan embraced the freelance nature of the industry, moving from project to project while logging the hours required to join the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Her work spanned reality television, scripted series, comedy specials, and features, alongside independent films she edited on her own.
By 2012–13, she had transitioned into scripted television, assisting on the CBS series Reckless. And during the next decade Victoria built a storied career as assistant editor on shows like CSI: Cyber, Station 19, Proven Innocent, and Hightown.
ictoria today is on the post-executive track, juggling multiple projects every day as senior manager post-production at Paramount Pictures.
“I have overseen work on numerous film and TV series, including The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson.
“I like to establish a strong working rapport with my director… and I like to be in the trenches with my (editorial) team to create something awesome that’s both innovative and entertaining. “
“It has been impressive to see her career grow in the industry, but I'm not surprised,” remarked Professor Devault. “Victoria has always been very hard working, creative,and driven to succeed.
“She is also a great mentor to many of our students who reach out to her and I appreciate that she takes the time with them. Can't wait to see what is next for her!”
From Xavier film challenges to studio leadership at Paramount, Victoria Page Jordan’s path reflects both mastery of her craft and the confidence to evolve when the moment calls for it.
What what would she say to Xavier students in the DIFT program today?
“Take the time to get to know the industry that you want to go into. Be informed of what field you might pursue. Research your industry. Get an internship or a part-time job with a company, don’t just read about them. Get in there.”
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