Prescott College President Dr. Barbara Morris Announces Retirement
Prescott College’s 18th president, Dr. Barbara Morris, has announced her intention to retire at the end of her contract in 2026.
Dr. Morris began her tenure in July 2021 after serving as the associate vice provost and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the State University of New York (SUNY) System. After serving in higher education upper administration for twenty years, she will conclude her career having served as a president for eight years across two institutions. Dr. Morris cites her desire to spend more time with her family, in the outdoors, and taking to heart experiential, lifelong learning through travel as the impetus for her decision. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, Prescott College is formulating a succession plan to be shared soon.
“I began my time at Prescott College by engaging our community to evaluate our mission. It is no surprise that the result was an updated mission statement that begins with the word “together.” That really is the Prescott College way,” said Morris. “Together we create interdisciplinary, experiential, and diverse learning environments that inspire future leaders to create a healthy, just, and sustainable world. And I am truly proud of the work we have all accomplished. Together we have nurtured substantial growth in several of our graduate programs and embraced a reinvigoration of our curriculum. We have acted to deepen our connections within the City of Prescott and Yavapai County, and demonstrated that our work at Prescott College produces an economic impact of $19 million each year. We have invested in the infrastructure of our campus, improving its functional and physical landscape to be beautiful and sustainable. Nationally, we have been a voice in our nation’s capital during troubling times, advocating for academic freedom. And most importantly, we have educated and mentored students who have grown to become educators, activists, counselors, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs—individuals who will continue to be the changemakers the world needs. That is our greatest success.”
In partnership with College Trustees and led by Dr. Pavel Cenkl, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Michelle Relyea, Dean of Student Affairs and Enrollment, Prescott College is currently preparing its next strategic plan. This 5-year plan, which will begin in 2026, will encompass the College’s 60th anniversary. “Dr. Morris’s work during the last five years has built a solid foundation for Prescott College’s future,” said Cenkl. “Our authentically regenerative approach to learning nurtures deep connections between knowledge and action, fosters resilience in both individuals and communities, and celebrates the interconnectedness of all life. As we look to the future of Prescott College, we are continuing to build a curriculum that not only adapts to the world’s complexities but also is responsive to our communities, and actively empowers students to be a catalyst for change.”