Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement after the presidential appointment of Nivory Gordon Jr. to State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development for Alabama. Mr. Gordon will be Alabama’s first Black USDA State Director for Rural Development.

“I’m so excited that President Biden has appointed Nivory Gordon Jr., a native of Alabama’s 7th District, to State Director of USDA Rural Development for Alabama. This is a historic appointment as Mr. Gordon will be Alabama’s first Black State Director of Rural Development. 

“With over 30 years of experience with USDA, Mr. Gordon is a trailblazer whose expertise will be critical as we uplift our farmers and rural communities, many of which have been historically left behind and are in need of a champion who knows their needs. For the past 10 years, I have worked with Mr. Gordon on a number of projects including the 2011 Choctaw County Water Project, the Lowndes County Water Project, and the 2019 Gordonville Town Hall Project.

“As a native of Wilcox County, Mr. Gordon has a keen understanding of the unique challenges faced by rural communities in our state and I look forward to working with him to advance the needs of rural Alabama!”

Gordon has served for over 34 years at the USDA Rural Development in Alabama, beginning as a Co-op student while attending Alabama A&M University. He has held several positions at USDA Rural Development including Assistant County Supervisor, Construction Analyst, Rural Development Specialist, Area Specialist, and most recently Area Director.