Jennifer Morgan

Jennifer Morgan is the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Dean for Professional Development and Director of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies, a position she has held since 2015.

She is a graduate of Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where she majored in psychology and was a four-year member of the Thiel women’s college basketball team. She was also a member of the Organization of Black Collegiate Students and Sister-to-Sister Organization. After graduation, she worked in student services at Thiel, where she was a housing manager and assistant women’s basketball coach.

She is married to Clyde Morgan, who is the Director of Track and Field and Cross country at Wabash, as well as Assistant Director of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies. Together, the Morgans have a son, Ziair, and a daughter, Ziah.

Since moving to Crawfordsville with her family, Jennifer has served as a study hall teacher for five years and a track coach for nine years at Tuttle Middle School (now Crawfordsville Middle School). She also coached girls’ basketball for 11 years at Crawfordsville High School and is an active member of the community.

Getting to Know Jennifer Morgan

You were a varsity basketball player at Thiel. What are your favorite memories of your time as a student-athlete?

My favorite memories as a student-athlete were the long-lasting relationships that I’ve built with my teammates, as well as some of faculty and staff. But I also loved:

Living on campus in a dorm on the “Hoop Squad Wing,” walking to class with my teammates, and attending psychology/child development classes.
Being able to have one-on-one discussions with my professors.
Playing basketball.
Going to basketball study tables.
Attending men’s basketball games and football games with spirit shirts that my teammates and I made the night before.
Hanging out on campus as well as off campus at a teammates’ house on the weekend.

These will always be my favorite memories as a student-athlete.

You are a working mom who is constantly on the go. When you’re not at work or spending time with your kids, what do you like to do?

When I’m not at work or spending time with my kids, I like to watch movies and catch up on Y&R.

What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about my family and coaching basketball.

What do you like most about working at Wabash?

The thing that I like the most about working at Wabash is being able to be a part of the educational/professional development process of a student from the time he steps on campus to the time he walks across the stage to receive his diploma.

The MXIBS members refer to you as a “second mom” or “Auntie.” How does that make you feel?

Being referred to as a “second mom” or “Auntie” by MXI members makes me feel appreciated, honored and respected. It also reassures me that the tradition of the Malcolm X Institute still remains as a place on campus that feels like a home away from home for the MXI members.

How has the MXIBS changed since you started working at the College?

The MXI membership has grown in numbers and the members are more engaged with the organization, as well as what is going on in the Wabash and Crawfordsville communities.

What messages do you most often reinforce with the student members of the MXIBS?

Be yourself, be open-minded to others’ views, make good decisions and don’t let your pride get in the way of you asking for help.

If parents of a young Black man had reservations about sending their son to Wabash, what would you tell them?

If parents of a young Black man had reservations about sending their son to Wabash, I would tell them that is perfectly normal; because as a black parent I know I will have my own reservations when it’s time for my son to decide on a college or university to attend. I would also let them know that if I didn’t feel that Wabash College as well as Crawfordsville Community was not a safe place, then my husband and I wouldn’t have decided to raise our family here. So, I would encourage them to visit campus to see and understand that Wabash is not just a campus, it is a community of faculty and staff that are dedicated to the success of their son’s education and provides them with the tools and experiences that prepares them for the real world. Lastly, I would let them know that Wabash is exceptional institution for ANY young man that is willing to put in the time and effort to get a great education.