Monica Morgan never planned to work in higher education fundraising. She first thought she would go into sports marketing. But a last-minute opportunity changed her career, and 12 years later, she is still fundraising. Now, she serves as NC State’s director of philanthropy for the ISE Department.
Morgan grew up in Philadelphia and remains a devoted fan of her hometown teams. “Big Philly sports fan—Go Birds!” she said. She and her husband moved to North Carolina 7.5 years ago without ever visiting first. “We absolutely love the state. Mountains, beach, lake—it’s beautiful! We got married here and are raising our family here,” Morgan said.
Her journey into fundraising started unexpectedly. While studying at a small liberal arts college (Franklin & Marshall College), she interned with the Lancaster Barnstormers, a minor-league baseball team. “I thought I would go into sports,” she said. But after seeing the long hours required, she changed her mind. At the same time, she volunteered with her college’s alumni relations office, helping with events like homecoming and reunion weekends. Just before graduation, the director of alumni relations offered her a role in annual giving. “I was hesitant about asking people for money, but it was the only job lead I had!” she said. That opportunity led to a long and rewarding career in philanthropy.
Now at NC State, Morgan looks forward to connecting with ISE alumni and learning about their careers. “The land-grant mission and all the ways NC State helps communities in all 99 counties really drew me in,” she said. “I love hearing alumni stories and learning about the different career paths they’ve taken. So many have used their engineering degrees in unique ways.”
Her plan as director of philanthropy is simple: “Get out there and meet as many folks as I can!” she said. She also wants to show alumni the many ways they can get involved with the department, whether through mentoring students, supporting research or contributing financially.
As she settles into her new role, Morgan is excited to strengthen the bond between ISE alumni and the university. With her passion for building relationships and her dedication to NC State’s mission, she is ready to make a lasting impact.
Meet Monica Morgan, ISE’s newest Director of Philanthropy
Want to Welcome Monica to ISE?
You can contact her at mkmorga4@ncsu.edu or 919.515.8888.