Jay Morrow’s lifelong connection to North Carolina Central University has come full circle as she prepares to walk across the graduation stage on Dec. 13, 2024, completing a degree she earned but never formally claimed 25 years ago.
Morrow’s journey with NCCU began long before her enrollment. Her mother, a student at the university in 1968, frequently brought young Jay along to her night classes. “I was around seven or eight, sitting quietly on the floor, soaking in the environment,” Morrow recalled.
Morrow started her college education at Fayetteville State University, then transferred to NCCU, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in recreation administration in 1995. Encouraged by her academic advisor and inspired by NCCU’s nurturing atmosphere, she immediately pursued a master’s degree in the same field, concentrating on educational technology. With the support of a full scholarship, she dedicated three years to her studies, which laid the groundwork for her varied career in communication, technology, and management.
After graduating, Morrow boldly moved to Washington, D.C., marking a significant turning point in her life. “I was coming out of the closet,” she explained. “I dropped my life in North Carolina and went to D.C. to build a new one, where I could be out and live openly to be myself.” This decision allowed her to embrace her identity while thriving professionally.
In the capital, Morrow effectively employed her education, working as a systems tester, managing an indoor aquatic facility, and eventually serving as a web and digital manager and consultant at the University of the District of Columbia. The skills she honed at NCCU proved invaluable as she navigated diverse roles in her career.
Getting Her Master’s Degree
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked introspection for Morrow, prompting her to return to Durham and reconnect with her roots and family. In October 2023, she accepted a position as the web content manager at NCCU, marking a return to the institution that played such a pivotal role in her life.
Upon reviewing her transcripts for further studies, Morrow was surprised to discover that she had already met all the requirements for her master’s degree in recreation administration, having overlooked the final step of applying for graduation in 1999.
Now poised to graduate officially, Morrow views this moment as a personal achievement and a powerful homecoming. “NCCU helped shape me in so many ways,” she stated. “To be back here now, working in a role that draws from everything I’ve learned and experienced, feels surreal. It’s a full-circle moment. My mother would be very proud.”
On December 13, Jay Morrow will finally receive the degree that symbolizes her journey and the foundational role that NCCU has played throughout her life.