University of South Florida

As a high school senior from Pennsylvania, Greg Morgan visited Tampa over spring break to enjoy a few baseball games and soak up some Florida sunshine. While here, he decided to take a tour of the USF campus.

Impressed by the College of Education’s academic offerings, and captivated by the area’s palm trees and beaches, he became a USF freshman just a few months later, “not knowing anyone south of Maryland.”

Now, as Student Government president and leader of the largest and most dynamic organization on campus, Morgan knows more students, faculty and administrators at USF and in Florida than the native of the small town of Pittston ever dreamed possible.

As president, Morgan regularly meets with distinguished community and business leaders, state officials and policymakers about issues important to students. A voting member of the USF Board of Trustees, he rubs elbows with other governor-appointed trustees. He is a member of the Florida Student Association Board of Directors. He oversees an $11 million budget. He represents students at all official functions. He serves as the voice of the student body and, therefore, spends significant time with top USF administrators including President Judy Genshaft.

Yet despite the high-level of responsibility that accompanies his position, Morgan remains modest. “It’s not about position, prestige and building a resume,” he says. “It’s about making a difference in the lives of USF students. Making positive changes. Building relationships. It’s about being a public servant.”

Public service is nothing new to Morgan. In high school, he participated in his town’s junior firefighter program becoming a volunteer firefighter at age 18. A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, he credits Sigma Chi International with facilitating the training opportunities and experience that developed the leadership skills he needed to head the ninth largest student body in the country.

“I’ve learned that as a leader, as long as you’re doing things for the right reasons, you won’t be disappointed with the outcome. That’s why one of my favorite quotes about leadership is, ‘Managers do things right. Leaders do the right thing.”

Currently majoring in elementary education, Morgan will be participating in the British Schools Experience during the summer. Offered through USF’s Education Abroad Office, the program will give him the opportunity to work with primary school children in Cambridge, England before he begins student teaching in the fall.

For the remainder of his term as Student Government president, however, Morgan will continue to balance his academic studies and his leadership position. Despite a schedule that is packed every day, he tries to remain accessible to all students.

“I’m very sensitive to student issues and concerns,” he says. “I believe that everyone needs to feel important and their thoughts and opinions valued.”