Revisiting My ‘Why’
President Morris reflects on the moments at St. Lawrence that remind her what drew her to a career in higher education.
On a beautiful sunny Saturday in September, I was lucky enough to huddle with the women’s cross country team as the runners readied themselves for the Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational. Since fall semester of 2021, I’ve been honored to serve as the team’s faculty advisor. I admire the discipline and dedication required of these student-athletes as they work hard to win as a team (which they did, placing first that day), while also pursuing personal bests.
As a small token of good luck and support, I shared with each of them a ladybug bracelet. I told them to think of each dot on the ladybug as one of their cheerleaders. Maybe those dots represent family members, teammates, their coach, or their friends. And I let them know that I am one of the many people represented by those dots, supporting each of them and wishing them luck not only that day in their race, but also as their semester progresses.
In recent months I’ve enjoyed a continuous flow of reminders of what drew me to a career in higher education—our students. What a special opportunity it is to walk alongside students, to challenge them, and to support them as they’re growing into the people they’re becoming.
What a special opportunity it is to walk alongside students, to challenge them, and to support them as they’re growing into the people they’re becoming."
–Kathryn Morris
Supporting the student journey is what’s always been fulfilling to me about higher education. A woman I know who served as president at two universities once said to me, “A good president spends 75% of her time off campus and 75% of her time on campus.” I think she perfectly captured what it’s like to serve as a college president, always desiring more time to connect with Laurentians off campus—alumni, parents, and friends—while also spending quality time with the students, faculty, and staff on campus— all with only 24 hours in a day.
This year, I have been energized by a series of engagements with our students, both on and off campus. In September, I was honored to be asked to guest lecture in a First Year Program class this semester. It was a joy to be in the classroom with students just beginning their journey here. I also met with the senior class officers to discuss what new traditions they want to leave behind for future generations of St. Lawrence grads. I paid visits to students enrolled in the Adirondack Semester and the New York City Semester programs. At Arcadia, our off-the-grid yurt village, students rely on one another for basic needs, including clean water. In New York City, students support one another in navigating city streets, neighborhoods, and public transportation on their way to classes and internships. In these juxtaposed environments, the shared sense of community and connection between students is palpable.
Beginning last spring, occasionally over the summer, and every other week or so during the fall semester, I’ve enjoyed hosting small student group dinners at my home. At these dinners, there is no formal agenda. Rather, we enjoy a nice buffet provided by Dining Services, and we have informal conversation to get to know one another. At each dinner, the students decide on an ice-breaker. Last spring, the women’s cross country team taught us the game “Rose, Bud, Thorn” to play as an ice-breaker. The rose represents something that’s making you happy today. (Remarkably, some of the women chose the green beans on the table!) The bud is something you’re looking forward to in the near future, and the thorn is something you are struggling with or might need support with. The EMS team’s ice-breaker was “If you were a medical device, which would you be?” My husband got a lot of laughs for his uncanny impression of the sound defibrillator paddles make.
After an ice-breaker about favorite and least favorite colors, the Laurentian Singers sang a new piece they have been working on, which was a wonderful treat. Developing personal connections with our students keeps me grounded in the important work we do at St. Lawrence. I leave each dinner feeling inspired and energized. I am already looking forward to the next dinner.
