Muskingum News

Muskingum College held its undergraduate commencement exercises on May 10, featuring an address by 1967 alumna Barbara Young Morris, a principal with Winston Partners, Incorporated of Chicago, Illinois. The baccalaureate sermon was delivered by 1968 alumnus David J. Evans, a founding partner of RS Investment Management LLC. Both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees were conferred.

In recognition of her lifetime of achievement, the college bestowed upon Ms. Young Morris an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Evans’ professional and personal achievements were recognized with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Ms. Morris is recognized for her leadership role in the economic growth of Baxter International, Inc., a global, $11-billion, Fortune-100 health-care products and services enterprise. Offering expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Baxter assists healthcare professionals in the treatment of complex medical conditions. Among Baxter’s pioneering contributions to the medical field were the first commercially-manufactured intravenous solutions and the first portable kidney dialysis machine.

During her 17-year career with Baxter, Ms. Morris became the first woman to become a member of the company’s senior management team, serving in the roles of corporate vice president and treasurer, senior vice president for human relations, and senior vice president for corporate communications. She was also a member of the Baxter Foundation Board of Directors.

Currently a principal of Winston Partners, Inc. of Chicago, Ms. Morris advises chief executive officers of emerging companies across the nation. She specializes in communications, corporate governance, and finance matters related to initial public offerings.

Ms. Morris donates her time, energy and expertise as a member of the Muskingum College Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and the Board of Directors of Imagine Chicago, a non-profit organization which enables individuals and community organizations to participate in innovative civic projects designed to connect generations and cultures.

Ms. Morris earned her bachelor of arts in history and sociology from Muskingum and her master of business administration from Harvard University.

In her commencement address, Ms. Young Morris told the graduates, “Now is the time of your life to broaden your horizons. Don’t let fear of failure prevent you from achieving that which lies within you. As you embark, remain steadfast, think boldly and embrace risk”

In her remarks to the graduating class, Dr. Steele recounted the many milestones the class had achieved during their time at the college, and told the graduates, “In countless ways you have shaped the Muskingum of tomorrow, just as you will now shape your own future. Thank you for being a part of the Muskingum community.”

Craig J. Miller ’08 represented the class of 2008. The charges to the class were presented by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Teacher Education and Professor of Education Dr. Linda Morrow and Alumnus and Chair of the Board of Trustees Harold W. Burlingame.

The baccalaureate service was held at 10:00 a.m. Evans’ sermon, titled “Unintended Consequences,” centered on the notion that life’s actions often have unintended consequences that are either positive or negative. He told the students, "Even though today is your graduation day, your education has really just begun, and Muskingum has prepared you for a lifetime of learning. My hope is that you have balance in your life and that your unintended consequences are all positive.”

Mr. Evans is recognized for his financial leadership and his diverse contributions to our nation’s economy through his work with emerging companies and non-profit organizations.

A founding partner of RS Investment Management LLC (RSIM), he retired as its managing director in 2001. During his career, Mr. Evans managed investment portfolios for educational institutions, foundations, hospitals, corporate pension funds and individual investors. He specialized in the analysis of growth opportunities, particularly in the technology sector. Prior to founding RSIM, he led growth fund portfolio management for the San Francisco-based investment bank Robertson Stephens.

Mr. Evans entered the investment field with the Connecticut General life Insurance Company (later CIGNA) as a research analyst for aerospace, defense, technology and electronics industries. Previously, he served as assistant dean and director of admissions and student affairs at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and as assistant director of admissions at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Currently a partner with Land and Sea LLC, Mr. Evans is involved in real estate development and renovation of historic homes in Connecticut and Delaware.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mystic River Historical Society, the Mystic-Noank Library and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and is an active volunteer with the Dennison Homestead Museum in Mystic, Connecticut.

Mr. Evans earned his bachelor of arts in history from Muskingum in 1968 and his master of business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Joshua B. Eno ’08 read the scripture for baccalaureate and Jessica A. Marshall ’08 led the Collect.