Next year, Allegheny will lose another recognizable and friendly face, as Director of Diversity Affairs Mounira Morris moves on to a new institution.

Morris came to Allegheny in the fall of 2003. Dean of students Joe DiChristina served on the search committee that selected her.

“She had the best gift to work directly with students,” he said.

Morris was the third person to officially fill her position.

“When she arrived, we already had a pretty good program,” said professor Bill Bywater.

However, “pretty good” got much better throughout the past four years.

Before Morris arrived, the graduation rate for students of color was approximately 50 percent. “Now, these students are on par with their white counterparts,” DiChristina said.

Senior Dravon Sligh, who came to campus the same year as Morris, said she played a key role in helping him decide to stay here.

“She helps you meet your goals and pushes you when you need it,” he said.

As Director of Diversity Affairs, Morris serves as advisor to five student organizations and mentor to many. She was instrumental in building connections with other schools and their diversity programs.

“She got our office involved with the Western Pennsylvania Diversity Consortium,” said Paul Knox, coordinator of Diversity Affairs.

Through the consortium, students had the opportunity to travel to different cities, network with students similar to themselves and interact with prominent people of color.

Morris has also helped advance many on-campus diversity programs such as the upcoming step show. “Without her it wouldn’t have been possible,” Sligh said.

Programs are just the beginning, though. “There is a constant flow of students in and out of her office,” DiChristina said.

“She’s great,” said junior J.C. Bangoy. “It was definitely a face I was happy to see as a freshman.”

Morris recently finished her doctorate dissertation at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently looking into an assistant or associate deanship at another school, but nothing is set yet.

Although it is a logical step for her to take in her career, it was by no means an easy one.

“It was a very difficult decision,” she said. “I love Allegheny, and I admire the commitment here.”

The search for a replacement is ongoing and the search committee is made up of students, faculty and Morris herself. “I’d like to see Allegheny with an affective director,” she said, “someone dynamic to take Allegheny to the next step.”

Her shoes, however, won’t be easy to fill. “She has put the bar very high for anybody who follows her,” Bywater said. “We’ll need to work hard to replace her.”