To Emily Morris, Ph.D., “St. Bonaventure University is a very, very special place.”
Morris, who has served in her role as vice president for university relations for nine years, is taking a position at Kent State University in Ohio in the fall.
“The opportunity at Kent State University seems like it was created just for me,” Morris said. “It calls for specific skills and experiences that I’ve been building for 27 years, and it enables me to work for yet another remarkable higher education leader in a completely different setting from those I’ve experienced to date.”
Morris said it is “really difficult” to think about continuing work without her coworkers, especially Tom Missel, Beth Eberth and Tom Donahue, with whom she works in marketing and communications.
“I’ve also been blessed with amazing cabinet colleagues and the most inspiring boss, Sr. Margaret, a person could ever hope to have,” Morris said.
She said part of her decision to move to Kent State was motivated by her husband, a graduate of that university.
“My husband teaches for Kent State online and is a graduate of the university, so it places us in proximity to his work colleagues and interests as well.”
Morris feels her accomplishments at St. Bonaventure have all been the result of teamwork.
“Perhaps the biggest accomplishment is that we’ve created partnerships across this campus and throughout our university’s network of alumni and friends to strengthen the brand and brand awareness of this great university,” she said.
Some of the work she has helped oversee includes helping to “align our assets and aspirations as a university.”
Still, leaving Bonaventure won’t be easy on Morris.
“There is no place like Bona’s, so I’ll miss the whole experience and the very special people who have embraced me as a Bonnie from day one,” she said.
mcelfrdh14@bonaventure.edu
