When Stephen R. Morgan steps down as president of Westminster College this summer, he will leave a legacy of being a versatile and nontraditional leader.
After serving in a variety of administrative roles for more than 30 years – including vice president for institutional advancement and executive vice president and treasurer- Morgan became Westminster’s 18th president in July 2015.
“It was not a job I sought – not that a college presidency isn’t a sought-after job. In transitioning from our last president to me, our board invited me to serve and I basically committed I would do it for three years,” Morgan recalls about his unorthodox path to the presidency. After all, he had never been a professor and had no doctorate degree. “It doesn’t happen very often,” he admits.
What Morgan had was a versatile leadership style that made him a key asset to the college’s executive team. Prior to becoming president, he had advised six past Westminster presidents on almost every major campus decision since 1981. He is also credited as being instrumental in shaping Westminster into the institution it is today, leading the college’s master plan, as well as the 2004–14 and 2014–19 strategic plans.
Jean Ambruster, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees says Morgan’s leadership, diverse experience and positive outlook will be missed on campus.
“During his tenure, he has found ways to bring out the best of everything that Westminster has to offer,” says Ambruster. “We are very proud of his longtime commitment to the college and wish him the best in his retirement years.”
Others said Morgan’s inherent sense of optimism, enthusiasm, and authenticity made him a natural choice for this role, and he led his team in raising more than $50 million for strategic priorities, including the creation of the Meldrum Science Center and the Campaign for Scholarships. The percentage of alumni giving back to the college doubled during his tenure, and the 2014–15 fiscal year was marked by the highest number of donors to the college in Westminster’s history.
