Betsy Morgan is a native Californian, born in Yosemite National Park. At just three months old, Morgan’s family moved to Afghanistan as her parents were serving in the Peace Corps. She was raised there from the age of 3 months to the age of 3 years.
However, most of her formative years were spent in California. She was raised in Davis, California, and later pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in psychology and women’s studies. Morgan then went on to receive her graduate degree and doctorate in social psychology (Ph.D.) from the University of California, Irvine.
“I was born in California. I’m a fifth-generation Californian, and I’m proud of that,” said Morgan.
Her passion for higher education stems from her family, who highly valued education and encouraged her academic pursuits. Her father’s mother defied the norms of the time by earning a college degree, while her mother’s mother dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support the family. She especially values and takes seriously the education of women. Beyond her family’s support and encouragement, she has always had a tremendous curiosity about life.
“My role models really are the women in my family who were so supportive of me getting advanced education,” said Morgan.
During an interview, Morgan referred to a quote from her mother that reflects her academic path:
“It takes one generation to dream it.
It takes the next generation to talk it.
Then it is the next generation to do it.”
Morgan’s passion for higher education and teaching led her to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1993. She made the leap from California to Wisconsin with her husband and 1-year-old identical twin sons.
“This was a really big change, and it ended up being a great choice. It was a great place to raise children, and I’ve come to really love the area,” said Morgan.
She started as a professor of psychology at UWL in 1993 and later served as chair of the psychology department for many years.
“I loved being a teacher. And I liked being a chair because you combine teaching and some administrative work,” said Morgan.
She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and served as president of the Psi Chi International Honor Society from 2013 to 2016. In addition to this impressive achievement, she also authored two textbooks and several peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented at over 50 conferences nationwide.
While teaching psychology, she served as the faculty assistant to the provost, which eventually led her to serve as interim provost twice. Once in 2011–2012 and again in 2015.
Morgan was first named interim provost in December 2011 for about six months. It was during this time that she came to enjoy the position. She served until former Provost Heidi Macpherson was hired in July 2012. Macpherson left UWL in July to take a position as the next president of the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Brockport.
Then, once again in 2015, Morgan became interim provost and vice chancellor at UWL during a critical two-year period for the university.
Finally, during the 2016–2017 academic year, UWL conducted a national search for the next permanent provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Morgan applied and was appointed as the new provost and vice chancellor.
“Once it became a national search, then I applied and was the successful candidate,” said Morgan.
After Morgan moved from her teaching position to her administrative role, Ryan McKelley took over her position as chair of the psychology department.
The switch from teaching and chairing to serving as provost was a big one.
“Before, my job was to make sure that all of my students were being appropriately educated within the department. Then all of a sudden, it was the whole university. Which is interesting and fun, but also comes with a certain level of responsibility,” said Morgan.
Her least favorite part of the transition was the lack of interaction with students.
“I have very little interaction with students. Since I don’t teach anymore, I don’t really have a lot of reason to be in and out with students. I loved being a teacher, and working with students,” said Morgan.
When asked how she still stays connected with students in her position, she replied, “When I walk from here to my car each night, I always ask myself, ‘What did you do today that made a difference for students?’”
The provost oversees 33 academic departments across three academic colleges (Business Administration; Science & Health; Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities), the School of Education and Murphy Library. In addition, the provost is responsible for International Education and Graduate & Extended Learning.
Morgan has about 800 of the 1,200 employees in her division.
“So, I take that responsibility really seriously. I represent a lot of people, and I always hope to do what I can to make people’s lives a little better,” said Morgan.
She works closely with chairs from all departments.
“It is really a privilege to work with people who are so committed to their work,” said Morgan.
“The other name for provost that I really like is Chief Academic Officer. And the reason I like that name is it kind of speaks more to how I spend my days, which is overseeing the deans of the various academic units,” said Morgan.
As Chief Academic Officer, Morgan dedicates all of her time to overseeing quality academics. This includes faculty development, curriculum and new programs.
“It’s never boring, like I’d like to say. Every day is a little different,” said Morgan.
Morgan’s primary goal during her time as provost has been establishing high-quality education. From hiring good people, to implementing programs and initiatives that benefit all students, to enhancing advising programs. All of her initiatives have had student success at their core.
“In a job like this, no matter what decisions you make or are a part of enforcing, there’s going to be someone that doesn’t agree, which makes it difficult,” Morgan said. “But when people say, ‘I might not have liked the decision you made, but I know that you cared,’ that’s a really nice compliment. It’s really nice that they know that my intent was correct.”
Betsy Morgan was named interim chancellor of UW-La Crosse on Dec. 27, 2023, after Joe Gow was dismissed as chancellor.
“I did serve as interim chancellor during the situation with Joe Gow. And so that put me in the spotlight a little more. Occasionally I would go places in the community and they’d recognize me and say things like, ‘You know, we love the university,’ and that’s all it is, you’re part of something bigger.”
When reflecting on her time as provost, vice chancellor, and interim chancellor, Morgan said, “I feel good about my job. I hope that I did good work.”
Her advice to the next provost and vice chancellor would be, “Know your clay before you start sculpting. If it’s somebody who’s not from here, come here and really learn about the people and the place.”
Betsy Morgan isn’t officially retiring until the end of June. This way, the university has time to begin the lengthy national search. A panel of faculty and administrative members will begin the interviewing process in March, and the selection process will follow.
The average time someone holds the position of provost and vice chancellor is about three to four years. Morgan has held it for 12.
“I think it’s a good time to move on,” said Morgan.
Another reason for the timing of her retirement is that she “wanted to make sure to overlap with a new chancellor and make sure that was a good working relationship before I left.”
Some of her plans after retirement include spending time with her 87-year-old mother, who also lives in the La Crosse area. She has recently started dabbling with pickleball and is toying around with the idea of writing a murder mystery.
Finally, she said, “I’ll travel a little more, and I will see what or where I can feel good about what I’m doing. Or I’ll become a crazy cat woman, one of the two.”
