Dr. Courtney B. Morris is a Detroit native, educator-activist, scholar, and higher education leader committed to expanding educational opportunity and strengthening pathways for students, families, and communities. Her academic journey reflects a deliberate effort to understand education from multiple perspectives, earning an Associate of Arts from Schoolcraft College, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University, and a Ph.D. from Central Michigan University. Her doctoral research, a deeply personal and integrative exploration of student experiences, continues to shape her scholarship, leadership, and professional practice. Her scholarly interests include educational policy, afterschool program design, storytelling through data, college access and completion, and community-centered development.
Professionally, Dr. Morris serves as Director of TRIO EMU Upward Bound and is the founder of Be Mentally Rich, a consulting firm that partners with K–12 school districts, colleges and universities, and organizations across Michigan and nationwide. Through her leadership and consulting work, she advances college readiness, student success, family and scholar engagement, afterschool programming, and financial wellness. Her professional background also spans philanthropy, STEM education, higher education student success, and community-based programming.
Grounded in the belief that education, health, and social-emotional well-being are interconnected and essential to individual and generational transformation, Dr. Morris approaches leadership with purpose, curiosity, and care. Outside of her professional work, she is an avid reader, sneaker collector, traveler, and writer.
