Andrea Morris *99, MOL

Position
Assistant Dean and Director, Career & Professional Development, Rockefeller University
Role
GradFUTURES Mentor & Alum-in-Residence (Summer 2022, Spring/Summer 2023)
Title
Clio Hall Award Recipient
Bio/Description

Andrea Morris is currently an Assistant Dean and the founding Director for Career and Professional Development at The Rockefeller University in New York City. Prior to that, Andrea taught and headed an undergraduate neurobiology research lab studying axon guidance as an Associate Professor of Biology at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Haverford, and in 1999, became the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in the Molecular Biology Program at Princeton University, working with the late Dr. Malcolm Steinberg.

After Princeton, Andrea did postdoctoral work at Emory University and Morehouse College in Atlanta as part of an innovative research and teaching program. She is also a leader in the nation’s efforts to diversify academia and the scientific workforce through her work in science education and training, and through serving as an active grant program reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Andrea has won numerous grants from the NIH throughout her career, and has mentored countless students, postdocs and junior faculty members nationwide, many of whom are from traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education. She also served as Secretary of the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA) for several years, and is actively involved in recruiting and retaining a diverse student population within Princeton’s Graduate School. Andrea lives in Manhattan with her husband, Norman and daughter, Ava.

"GradFUTURES has been a great way to build stronger connections to Princeton's Graduate School and also to current graduate students. Above all, my time at Princeton taught me to be a fearless thinker and to take control of my professional goals. These lessons have allowed me to build a challenging, rewarding and dynamic career! My main advice for current graduate students is to make real time for your career and professional development, using all of the amazing resources that you have at Princeton."