[3] In 1939, Gordon earned a bachelor's degree in home economics and chemistry from what was then called Michigan State College.

She returned to Grand Rapids to seek work, but she was informed that "white male chefs would not want to take orders from a black female dietitian.

[5] Gordon's analysis of pertussis cultures led to identification of a powerful strain of the organism, which enabled the development of an effective vaccine.

[4][6] The identification of sheep blood as essential for incubating the bacterial cultures in petri dishes in the laboratory is attributed to Gordon.

[3] After World War II, Gordon was selected to travel to Europe and the Middle East with the National Council of Christian and Jews to "take the pulse of the people" in the area.