Opening Doors: Susan Morris and the Power of Opportunity

Susan Walters Morris ’86 still remembers the moment she discovered Transylvania University at a college fair. What began as a simple conversation about college possibilities would ultimately shape the course of her life.

After attending a small all-girls boarding school in a rural area, she was searching for a college experience that combined the close-knit feel of a liberal arts education with the opportunities of an urban environment.

“Transylvania offered all three,” Morris said.

The connection was immediate. At Transylvania, she found more than the college experience she had been searching for. She found a community where relationships came easily, leadership opportunities emerged naturally and students were encouraged to grow into the fullest versions of themselves.

“Transy’s small student body allowed me to connect with peers from different grades and majors, making it easy to build relationships with other students, professors and staff,” she said. “I also had various opportunities to participate in activities such as athletics, Greek life and student government. These experiences enabled me to contribute, to a small extent, to enhancing the Transy experience for other students while helping me develop leadership skills.”

Those experiences gave Morris not only lifelong memories, but also the confidence and sense of purpose that would guide her long after graduation.

Morris recalls road trips with the tennis team, serving as Panhellenic rush chair and transformative May term experiences among her favorite memories from Transylvania.

“A highlight was a May term class trip to Washington, D.C., where we had the chance to meet with leaders from the World Bank and executives at major international banks in New York City,” she said.

The support she found at Transylvania extended beyond the classroom and helped shape her professional future in meaningful ways.

During her first year, she sought part-time work to help cover expenses. A professor connected her with a local brokerage firm looking for a student employee.

“Thanks to a professor who connected me with a brokerage firm that needed a student for 10 hours a week, this initial opportunity evolved into an internship at the largest bank in Lexington during my sophomore- and junior-year summers,” she said.

What began as a small opportunity soon became the foundation for a successful career in banking and wealth management.

“The rotations I completed offered invaluable insights into career opportunities in both retail and commercial banking,” Morris said.

After graduating from Transylvania, she launched a corporate banking career in Charlotte, North Carolina, before eventually transitioning into wealth management.

“The cornerstone of my professional success was shaped by the academic opportunities at Transy, particularly in classical liberal studies and practical business courses, and by the leadership skills I developed through the organizations I participated in,” she said.

Today, Morris is working to ensure future generations of students have access to the same life-changing opportunities that shaped her own journey.

As chair of the Board of Regents, she has spent the past several years helping guide Transylvania through a rapidly changing higher education landscape while advocating for initiatives that strengthen the university’s future.

“As a member of the Board of Regents, it has been a privilege to serve alongside fellow regents, the university president and the trustees since joining in 2019,” she said. “The strategic initiatives underway to enhance resources for students, faculty and staff, innovate academic offerings and promote community engagement promise a bright future for Transylvania as a premier liberal arts institution, both in Kentucky and beyond.”

As she worked alongside university leadership, one issue became especially clear to Morris: the growing challenge of college affordability.

As she and her husband, Dean, navigated the college process with their own children, they saw firsthand how fully funded scholarships influence students’ decisions.

“As we navigated the college process, we encountered several institutions offering fully funded educational opportunities,” Morris said. “One common factor stood out: They attracted talented candidates by alleviating financial concerns in their decision-making.”

That realization stayed with Susan and Dean Morris and ultimately inspired one of their most meaningful commitments to Transylvania.

“In gratitude for the impact Transylvania University has had on my life and family, Dean and I have consistently supported The Annual Fund and various capital campaigns,” Morris said.

During a conversation with advancement officer Matt Briggs, the couple reflected on the legacy of the William T. Young Scholarship to help Transylvania attract exceptional students.

“This scholarship was a transformative milestone for Transy, as it became the first higher education institution in the state of Kentucky to offer full coverage of tuition, room and board, along with a stipend,” she said.

“In the inaugural class (entering Transylvania in) 1982, 10 exceptional Young Scholars began their college journey, free from the weight of financial worries.”

Over time, rising costs forced the scholarship to shift from a full-ride award to tuition-only support.

“In response to the escalating costs of higher education, the Young Scholarship was, regrettably, reduced in the ’90s to cover only tuition,” Morris said. “Each admission cycle, Transylvania University loses talented students who receive the Young Scholarship to institutions that offer fully funded merit scholarships.”

Determined to help change that, Susan and Dean Morris committed to restoring one full William T. Young Scholarship beginning this fall.

“Dean and I are proud to announce that we are restoring one Young Scholarship,” she said. “We are thrilled that a high school senior, who has excelled academically and demonstrated exceptional leadership, will be joining the esteemed Transylvania community in the fall of 2026.”

For Morris, the scholarship represents far more than financial assistance. It represents freedom, possibility and the chance for students to fully embrace their Transylvania experience without the burden of constant financial stress.

“Since 1982, the incredible impact of William T. Young and the Young family has transformed the lives of W. T. Young Scholars, equipping them with the resources to thrive at Transylvania University and beyond,” she said. “We are genuinely passionate about preserving and advancing this vital legacy.”

She hopes their commitment will inspire fellow alumni and former Young Scholars to come together in support of future generations of students.

“We invite all William T. Young Scholars to unite in our mission to restore the William T. Young Scholarship to a fully funded financial package and continue making a meaningful impact together.” Morris said.

As Transylvania approaches its 250th anniversary in 2030, Morris believes alumni engagement will help define the university’s next chapter.

“As the chair of the Board of Regents, I encourage my fellow alumni to take a moment to consider the impact Transy has had on your life,” she said.

“If this reflection resonates with you, I invite you to explore the many ways you can give back to Transylvania University as we approach 2030, Transy’s 250th anniversary.”

For Morris, giving back to Transylvania is rooted in gratitude. The university opened doors that shaped her life, introduced her to mentors and opportunities and helped her discover her own capacity for leadership. Today, she hopes her support will help open those same doors for future students so they, too, can learn, lead and thrive.