Dr. Morris is an Assistant Professor and past Program Director for the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida, after serving eight years in the Army and National Guard. Dr. Morris' research focuses on veteran and military student success, access to higher education, and advancing instructional outcomes. He teaches courses on program development, assessment, and measurement. Dr. Morris has published in journals such as Community College Review, Journal of Continuing Higher Education, and The Journal of American College Health.

PhD, University of Florida, 2011
Major: Higher Education Administration
Supporting Areas of Emphasis: Research, Evaluation, and Methodology
Dissertation Title: Examining a Developmental Math Curriculum Redesign

MA, University of Florida, 2007
Major: Geography and GIS

BA, Concord University, 2003
Major: Political Science

Courses Taught at UCCS

LEAD 6830 Practicum for Student Affairs
LEAD 7600 Doctoral Research Lab
LEAD 2700 Introduction to Social Science Research
LEAD 1600 Leading Teams and Organizations
LEAD 5310 Program Development and Evaluation
LEAD 5220 Program Evaluation for Educational Programs and Projects        
LEAD 5700 Introduction to Research and Statistics
LEAD 7000 Masters Research Lab
LEAD 8200 Assessment and Measurement
AMT 3280 Teams and Organizational Leadership                  
GPS 3010 Transitions, Veteran and Military Transition Course           
GPS 1010 Gateway Program Seminar               

Courses Taught at Other Institutions

Foundations of Geographic Information Systems
Introductory Physical Geography Lab

Castro-Faix, M., Hengtgen, K., Morris, P.A., Rapp, K., Winkler, C. E., and *Xu, T. (accepted). Virtues of Academic Exploration: Impact of Major Changes on Degree Completion. Journal of College Orientation, Retention, and Transition.

Morris, P. A., *Deickman, J., *McIntyre, K., & *Roberts, V. (2023). Engagement and Withdrawal for Community College Student Veterans. Community College Journal of Research & Practice. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2023.2189180

Morris, P., (2022). Student Veteran Inclusion, Belongingness, and Success. In G. Henning & E. Bentrim (Eds.). The Impact of Sense of Belonging in College: Implications for Student Persistence, Retention, and Success. Stylus Publishing. https://styluspub.presswarehouse.com/browse/book/9781642672619/The-Impact-of-a-Sense-of-Belonging-in-College  

*Metcalfe, A., Morris, P., Delewski, R. (2022). Exploring the connection between gender roles and post-trauma growth. In S. Rawat, O.B. Boe, & A. Piotrowski (Ed.). International perspectives on PTSD and PTG: Learning to Thrive from the Military. Jaipur, India: Rawat Publications. https://www.rawatbooks.com/psychology/international-perspectives-ptsd-ptg

Morris, P. A., *Agbonlahor, O., *Winters, R., & *Donelson, B. (2022). Self-Efficacy Curriculum and Peer Leader Support in Gateway College Math. Learning Environments Research. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10984-022-09424-y

Morris, P. A. (2022). Presenting a Holistic Student Veteran Advising Model. Research Briefs: National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. https://sc.edu/nrc/system/pub_files/1656092938_186.pdf

Albanesi, H. P., Morris, P. A., *Cassidy, S. (2022). Service-connected Disability: Belongingness, Access, and Quality of Life for Student Veterans. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. 35(3), 189-202. https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped

Clayton, G., Morris, P. A., Taylor, J. & Carpenter, D. (2022). Conducting Online Research with Data from the National Center for Education Statistics. SAGE Research Methods Case Studies. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529600131

Morris, P. A., *McNamee, M., & *St. Louis, K. (2021). Military Cultural Competence Training:
Lessons for Creating an Inclusive Campus Environment. Journal of Continuing Higher Education. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07377363.2021.1938804

Morris, P. A., Carpenter, D., *Rodriguez, F. (2021). Mental Health Stigma Among First-Year Student Veterans. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1851231

Morris, P., Barker, L., Monar, A. (2020). Utilizing the Social Ecological Framework to Enhance Wellness for Student Veterans. Journal of American College Health.

Morris, P., Carpenter, D., Rodriguez, F. (2020). Mental Health Stigma Among First-Year Student Veterans. Journal of American College Health.

Morris, P., Albanesi, H. P., Cassidy, S. (2019). Student-Veterans’ Perceptions of Barriers, Support, and Environment at a High-Density Veteran Enrollment Campus. Journal of Veteran Studies, 4(2), 180-202.

Morris, P., Gibbes, C., Jennings, S. A. (2018). An Examination of Student Veteran Education Pathways at an American University. Journal of Geography in Higher Education.

Mendez, S., Witkowsky, P., Morris, P, Brosseau, J. & Nicholson, H. (2018) Student Veteran Experiences in a Transition Seminar Course: Exploring the Thriving Transition Cycle. Journal of Veterans Studies. Vol. 3 (2).

Mendez, S., Witkowsky, P., Kumm, C., Ogunbowo, O., Morris, P. (2016). Comparing Military-Connected and Non-Military Connected Students’ Orientation Experiences. The Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 24(1), 78-84.

Campbell, D., Syed, S., Morris, P. (2010). Minding the Gap: Filling a Void in Community College Leadership Development. New Directions for Community College. no. 149,p. 33-39.

McKinney, L., & Morris, P.  (2010). Examining an Evolution: Understanding the Organizational Change Accompanying the Community College Baccalaureate. Community College Review. Vol. 37 Issue 3, p. 187-208.

Campbell, D.F., & Morris, P. (2009). 2009 Community College Futures Assembly Focus: Leading Change – Leading in and Uncertain Environment. Community College Journal of Research & Practice, Vol. 33 Issue 11, p 851-855.

2018 Garrett Swasey Outstanding Staff Award, UCCS

2017 Outstanding Graduate Award, University of Florida Institute for Higher Education

2016 CU President's Diversity Award - Unit Award, University of Colorado President's Office

• 2018 - Diversity and Excellence Grant, University of Colorado – Understanding and Communicating Student Veterans' Strengths to Stakeholders across UCCS Communities, ($3000 awarded) Role: Co-PI 

• 2016 - University of Colorado President’s Diversity Award. Unit award for UCCS Veteran and Military Student Affairs, ($2000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2015 - Anschutz Foundation Challenge Grant – Military and Veterans Pathways to Success (MVPS) Project, ($1,000,000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2014 - JP Morgan Chase & Bank – Building Resilient Student Veterans, ($165,000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2014 - Title III Strengthening Programs Grant, U.S. Department of Education – Gateways to Success,   ($2,000,000 awarded)  Role: Co-PI

• 2014 - Aurora Foundation Community Grant, Aurora Foundation – Enhancing Veteran Support: Transition Assistance and Education Outreach for Student-Veterans, ($5000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2014 - Diversity and Excellence Grant, University of Colorado – Creative Collaborations; Peer Mentoring as a Student Success Strategy for Student-Veterans, ($3000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2013 - UCCS Green Action Fund, University of Colorado Colorado Springs – ($3000) Role: Lead

• 2013 - USAA Community Grant Program, USAA – Veteran Educators Training and Support Project, ($5000 awarded) Role: Lead

• 2011 - National College Access Network Seminar Fellowship, Lumina Foundation, ($900 awarded) Role: Lead