“My plan was to attend RMC for a semester and then transfer to a larger college,” recalls Alex Morrison Jr. ’97. But after arriving for football camp and making friends with his teammates and fellow students, “I quickly decided that RMC was home,” he says.

Morrison made the most of his time at RMC: In addition to varsity football, he participated in intramural athletics, Greek life and the Student Government Association. He also served as an announcer for women’s basketball games and assisted science professors in their labs.

Memories on and off the Field
“Playing football was an amazing experience,” says Morrison, who majored in environmental studies and minored in biology. “Despite one of my coaches endearingly calling me ‘the dumbest smart guy on the field’—my ‘football IQ’ was not very high—my time with coaches and teammates was priceless. By the way, we did three-a-day practices back then…brutal!”

During his junior year, he traveled to Arizona in conjunction with Biology Professor Emeritus Barry Knisley’s course, Mountain/Desert Ecology. “Professor Knisley was my de facto advisor, and he was such a big influence on my life,” says Morrison. “I constantly try to emulate his serene nature.”

Setting Sail for Success
After graduation, Morrison worked in Canada on a sailing vessel. He then worked for Bob Beckel, a political analyst he’d met while moderating a campus debate between Beckel and Arianna Huffington. Morrison served as a political media consultant for several campaigns and then joined a broadband startup company before working for Discovery Channel, where he oversaw sales of digital content services in the education sector. In 2018 he was named senior vice president of business development for Strada Education Network, a nonprofit that creates and improves pathways between education and employment.

“My role is to support Strada’s seven portfolio companies on growth strategy and execution,” explains Morrison. “Education is an industry I am passionate about. I love that I get to work with a variety of companies, supporting their impact and revenue growth models. Working with such talented people is a blessing.”

A Generous Yellow Jacket
Morrison’s teammate and roommate at RMC was Tim Armoska ’97, a gifted football player who died in 2004.

“Tim was a phenomenal friend and athlete,” says Morrison. “Tim’s family and friends created an athletic endowment in Tim’s honor that I have supported for years, and I encourage others to do so.” Thanks to the generosity of many donors—including Morrison—the college in 2017 created the Timothy G. Armoska ’97 Memorial Patio, located on the north end of Day Field.

Morrison’s generosity also helped establish an endowment supporting the EDGE, RMC’s career preparation program, in memory of Jacai Colson ’09. Colson, a Prince George’s County police officer, was killed in 2016 in the line of duty. “I encourage others to consider making contributions to RMC for whatever they are most passionate about, including the Armoska and Colson endowments,” says Morrison.

Staying Connected
Morrison, a member of the Society of Alumni board, stops by campus each summer with his wife, Bridget, and their four children. “We visit Barclay DuPriest—my ‘mother in Ashland’—and walk around,” he says. “I love the changes that have taken place. When I was a student, they were still wiring the campus for Internet! The Brock Center is amazing, and the baseball stadium looks like a minor league park. And I am really impressed by the new nursing program.”

Morrison’s advice to new Yellow Jackets? “Be as involved as possible and engage with people who are not like you. Your time at RMC will differentiate you if you take advantage of everything the college has to offer.”