News & Events

Fourth-year psychology student Jerome Morgan knows how to reach an audience.

As a Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award recipient, Morgan had an opportunity to address students, faculty, staff and family members at the celebration on April 18.

"We learn very quickly at Ryerson that university isn't just about the books. It's the things we do before and after the books that matter. It's the experiences, people and memories that define our life and our life's work," he said.

Sixty-six students were lauded for their academic achievements and dedication to volunteerism at the awards presentation. The annual ceremony recognizes those who have made exceptional voluntary extracurricular contributions to their community, academic program or at Ryerson.

Morgan is president of the United Black Students at Ryerson group and was a youth ambassador for three years for Ryerson's Tri-Mentoring First Generation program. Beyond Ryerson, he's co-ordinated free art programs for the Art Starts Neighbourhood Cultural Centre in the Lawrence Heights area.

He's worked as a youth leader for Schools Without Borders, an organization that supports a global network of grassroots educators and learning communities, and was a youth representative for the international advocacy group, Human Rights Watch. His work with Schools Without Borders led to a 2008 trip to Brazil working alongside neighbourhood leaders learning about community development, poverty and culture. Morgan used this experience in his practicum course, enabling him to return to Brazil in 2009 and connect his experiential learning project to his research on liberation psychology.

His leadership initiatives have also crossed borders to New Orleans, where he helped rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and New York to aid the not-for-profit organization Leave Out Violence with its violence prevention programs.

"I feel more than anything I am a doer, not just a thinker. The work I do isn't for recognition, it's because it's important," Morgan said. "I am passionate about community work and social change because poverty is a reality in our society and I think as a citizen it's our responsibility. I was raised to understand that I would have to aim high and work hard to achieve in life."

The awards are named after former Ryerson vice-president, academic Dennis Mock for his commitment to higher education. His leadership and dedication, demonstrated during his 28 years at the university, are qualities embodied in students chosen to receive this award - students committed to 'making a difference.' Attending the ceremony is the "highlight on my calendar," says Mock, who has come to the event for the past 12 years.

"Leadership is all about helping, motivating, challenging and inspiring. It takes many forms and contexts but there are two truisms that this year's award winners embody: one, they've acted and gone forth with their endeavours and two, they've done so for the benefit of our communities and for others."