Sandra Morgen steps down at UO Graduate School

Sandra Morgen stepped down from her position as associate dean and vice provost for graduate studies on Jan. 31, after serving the University of Oregon Graduate School for more than five years.

Morgen joined the Graduate School in September 2008 as associate dean before also becoming vice provost for graduate studies in July 2010. An open house event in her honor will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the Graduate Student Center in Susan Campbell Hall.

Congratulate Sandi Morgen.

Morgen’s leadership, responsiveness to students and passion for graduate education transformed the graduate school from an office tasked with ensuring academic quality control, to one with a varied identity that also includes student advocacy and service. She raised awareness of the Graduate School among students and faculty across the university.

One of Morgen’s first accomplishments was the creation of a robust graduate student experience survey, which the Graduate School uses to better understand graduate student needs and perceptions. She helped the Graduate School Student Advisory Board organize the university’s first interdisciplinary graduate conference, the Graduate Student Research Forum, now in its fifth year. Morgen also worked to promote the recognition of students receiving awards, both large and small, by instituting the Graduate School's annual Fall Awards Reception.

“Sandi helped make the Graduate School a visible, relevant campus partner, one that other units on campus wish to seek out for collaboration,” said Mia Tuan, Interim Dean of the College of Education and former associate dean of the Graduate School.

Morgen’s experience as a faculty advisor, first in sociology and now in anthropology, served her well in her role as an administrator in the Graduate School.

“Sandi addresses her students as multifaceted people,” said Gennie Nguyen, a doctoral student in anthropology who is advised by Morgen. “Her mentorship has made me a better scholar and a better person. I want to emphasize (that) she is very hard on you when she needs to be. She expects the best from you, and that's a good thing.”

Sara Hodges, a professor in the Department of Psychology, worked closely with Morgen as a member of the Graduate Council, a senate committee that advises the deans of the Graduate School on matters pertaining to graduate education.

“Sandi was fiercely nurturing – seeing capabilities in me that I didn’t yet know I had,” Hodges said. “Sandi’s ability to balance being both a firm and caring leader with an eye towards improving the graduate student experience drove her success as an administrator at the Graduate School.”

Morgen’s background as a social scientist was evident in the university-wide graduate student survey she designed to better understand the needs of graduate students. The survey, now conducted every three years, assesses all aspects of the graduate student experience and collects data from each area of study. Survey results have led to improvements in the Graduate School and within each graduate department across campus.

“Sandi has taken a social scientist’s approach to leading the Graduate School through the graduate student survey,” said Lynn Stephen, a faculty member in the anthropology department. “She gathers data from the experiences of students and uses that data to drive change.”

Morgen recently returned to the anthropology faculty and is slated to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels this spring. Her research interests center on the intersection of gender, race, class and public policy in the U.S., with a particular focus on health, social welfare and tax politics.

“While the graduate school is losing an indescribably awe-inspiring administrator, I'm excited for the number of students – undergraduate and graduate – that will get the opportunity to work with and alongside her,” Peake said.

- from the UO Graduate School