Staff Spotlight: Brooke Morrissy

Brooke Morrissy is the Assistant Director of New Year Experience and Family Relations at Vanguard University. Morrissy focuses on creating memorable first-year experiences for incoming freshmen and transfer students at Vanguard. She also focuses on incorporating these students’ families into memorable events as they are a main support line for them.

In a recent interview with Morrissy, we get to know the roots within the passion she possesses to create change. Morrissy expresses how her first year as an undergraduate was not as special.

Morrissy states, “I was someone who was very shy and wanted to get plugged in, and I didn’t know a lot of people who went to my school… But I found a group of people who were experienced first-year relationships and I was able to grow a lot within it. I was able to see a lot of value in first-year experience and was able to find a very positive aspect.” 

There are two different roles that Morrissy takes on. One of her responsibilities is creating a memorable experience for new students, regardless of their academic status. This includes planning and facilitating “Welcome Week” in August before classes begin, and “Transfer Initiatives” events such as “National Transfer Student Week”. She also leads, hires, and works with Activate all year long.

Within her second role of family relations, she plans and facilitates events such as family day, chapel, campus tours, and more. One ongoing project Morrissy is currently working on is a stronger support system for Spanish-speaking families.

Morrissy and student leader Dyane Velazquez work side by side in building resources for Spanish-speaking families from the ground up. Morrissy and Velazquez are currently focusing on creating a Spanish-based email address, newsletter, and phone number resource along with creating a system of translation services during Vanguard programs and events. 

With much to do to provide change within the university, Morrissy is all hands on deck with her team! Morrissy oversees as a part-time professional coordinator for 5 student leaders who serve as the First-Year Experience coordinators. In addition, she oversees a group of upcoming student leaders in Activate.