Jordan Morrison keeps blazing new paths in environmental education.
Jordan Morrison, a Class of 2023 graduate and double-major in biology and education studies, was able to combine her interests in science and education at High Point University. That combination created a specialized career path she plans to follow.
“HPU helped me achieve my goals by providing opportunities for me to mix my interests through interdisciplinary studies within the honors program and research projects,” said Morrison, a native of Loveland, Ohio. “I’ve been able to tackle scientific questions and educational outreach in unique ways because of this.”
After graduation, she will work as an environmental scientist with Burns & McDonnell, an architecture and engineering company with more than 5,300 scientists, engineers, architects, consultants, construction professionals and entrepreneurs. While the 125-year-old company is based in Kansas City, Missouri, Morrison will work in its Greenville, South Carolina, office and travel frequently to survey sites around the United States and Canada.
Taking Research New Places
The challenge of travel doesn’t faze Morrison. The Fulbright U.S. Student semifinalist traveled across the nation to present multiple research projects and land exciting internships while at HPU.
“My most recent conference presentation was at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire, Wisconsin,” said Morrison, who was also a member of HPU’s Strickland Women’s LIFT Fellows. “I presented the findings from a collaborative project with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and the Greensboro Science Center, where I analyzed how augmented reality tools could be utilized as an instructional tool in science museums and zoos.”
Morrison credits many of her faculty mentors at HPU with encouraging her to explore informal careers in education. Within the Biology Department, she found Dr. Nicole Hughes, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Kelli Sapp, associate professor of biology and co-director of Natural Sciences Fellows, to be great role models for a future woman in science.
Dr. Leslie M. Cavendish, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Educator Preparation in the Stout School of Education, was Morrison’s mentor through an independent study that allowed her to improve accessibility to Disney’s conservation education program. Cavendish continued to support Morrison through her career exploration.
Blazing trails for others
“My ‘coolest’ internship experience was being a conservation education intern at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” said Morrison. “I spent eight months in the park sharing lessons about animals, plants and conservation projects around the world. I spoke to more than 500 guests per day, so I felt like I had a big impact in connecting people to the environment around them.”
Cavendish chuckled as she recalled seeing Goofy and other Disney characters in the background as she communicated with Morrison during her internship.
“Jordan seeks challenges and opportunities, and consistently exceeds expectations,” said Cavendish. “Jordan’s path to graduation involved many adjustments along the way, and through her flexible thinking that allowed her to create opportunities for herself, she has shown herself to be a true leader. I have had the great fortune to work closely with Jordan through an independent study and am delighted that others are seeing her not just for her academic skills (which are exceptionally strong) but also for her leadership skills. Someone once told me there are three ways to demonstrate leadership – ‘by example, by example and by example.’ This is Jordan Morrison.
“One example of her trailblazing is how she sought opportunities beyond the HPU campus to be able to teach outside of traditional school walls,” said Cavendish. “In the Animal Kingdom, she taught lessons relating to ecology and sustainability. She even expanded Walt Disney World offerings by designing ‘conservation pop-up stations’ for the Animal Kingdom. Throughout her independent study, Jordan shared her concerns regarding equity and limitations of many families who would otherwise not be able to experience the learning opportunities there.
“Jordan then took action by building a website, applying skills and strategies she learned while teaching in the Animal Kingdom. Her goal with the site was to empower all children to actively participate in learning about the world around them through applying scientific inquiry practices in ecology and conservation. This is leadership in education! She is already blazing her own path in the field of education through leading by example. Without giving up her love of teaching, she has expanded her impact and continues to build opportunities for others to try new educational approaches offering learning far beyond classroom borders.”
Morrison said one of the most important life skills she learned was how to engage and interact with people from backgrounds different from her own.
“This has helped me differentiate education lessons and conservation messages within my work to engage all audiences,” said Morrison.
As an environmental scientist, her passion for conversation and teaching others will now continue in a new, exciting career.