Joseph R. Morris endowed professorship in race and psychology established

May 10, 2018

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Dr. Joseph Morris, professor of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology (CECP) in the College of Education and Human Development, has bequeathed a gift to Western Michigan University to create the Joseph R. Morris Endowed Professorship in Race and Psychology. This endowed professorship will enable the CECP department to recruit and retain faculty with exceptional contributions to the study of race in counseling psychology and/or race and psychology to ensure that, in perpetuity, multiculturalism will continue to be a cornerstone of the college, the department, the curriculum, the students and the faculty. 

The gift will continue Dr. Morris’ legacy of instilling multiculturalism into the fabric of the CECP department. Morris came to the department in 1984 as the first African American tenure track faculty member in the department and over the last thirty-four years has helped make multiculturalism a cornerstone of the department through his scholarship and leadership. During his ten years as director of the department, he focused on hiring diverse faculty and the recruitment of diverse students. He established the Joseph R. Morris Award for Outstanding Contributions to Multicultural Counseling and Psychology which provides funds to assist with the many expenses associated with doctoral studies and is awarded to historically underrepresented doctoral students with research and leadership interests focused on issues of race and psychology. Dr. Morris is also actively engaged in community outreach projects that benefit students in Kalamazoo Public Schools.