Sandy Morgan, Westminster’s new first lady at her graduation in 2011. An alumna of Westminster, Morgan also sits on the Women’s Board. Photo courtesy Sandy Morgan
Westminster alumna and Women’s Board member Sandy Morgan is Westminster’s new first lady.
According to Morgan, when she and her husband, Steve, found out he was going to become president of Westminster College, they both thought, “We can’t not do it. We both love the place.”
Morgan has been involved in many aspects of Westminster, including being a Westminster graduate, but she said she never expected to be one of the college’s first ladies.
Morgan first attended Westminster in 1983 to take a pottery class, recommended by Steve.
“I’m probably the longest timeframe transcript of anybody on campus,” Morgan said.
She continued to attend Westminster on and off until officially graduating in 2011 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics.
Hikmet Loe, Morgan’s art history professor and friend, said she couldn’t be happier that Morgan is the first lady.
“[Sandy] was such a diligent and thoughtful student,” Loe said. “She’s such a genuine person and authentically cheerful.”
In addition to being a Westminster graduate, Morgan serves on The Woman’s Board. As first lady, Morgan now pours the tea at The Woman’s Board tea parties.
“It was a prosperous and elite group,” said Morgan, reflecting on the board’s early days.
The Woman’s Board was started by Jeanette Ferry—the woman who convinced her husband, Colonel Ferry, to donate the land where Westminster now sits. Morgan said it’s grown tremendously over the years and continues to play an important role at Westminster.
“They are doing great things,” Morgan said. “They have a lot of scholarships they offer and their endowment is almost up to a million.”
Besides having the privilege of pouring the tea at The Women’s Board tea parties, she is looking forward to getting back on campus and interacting with students.
Benjamin Jones, junior elementary education major, met Sandy when he was interviewed for a position with the presidential ambassadors.
Sandy and Steve have supported each other throughout their 40 years of marriage. Both are excited to take on this new opportunity together to play a larger role in the Westminster community. Photo courtesy Sandy Morgan and the Office of Marketing and Communication
“Sandy is wonderful,” Jones said. “She cares for the students as much as Steve does. If Steve’s blood is Westminster purple, then Sandy has the complementary heart of gold.”
Jane Jerman, junior communication major, agrees.
“She’s incredible,” Jerman said. “If I could imagine a first lady for Westminster, I would imagine Sandy Morgan.”
Jerman said she thinks it’s inspiring as a student to see these two figureheads love Westminster as much as the students do.
Being the first lady means many things to Morgan, but representing the school and the students is number one.
“For me, I feel very grateful that I went here,” Morgan said. “I know the students. I know a lot of the professors. We’ve been here for so long. I just want to be a good representative of Westminster because it is a fabulous school.”
Morgan’s goal is to be accessible to students and help them succeed. She said she hopes every student will “keep plugging away [because] it’s never too late.”
When Morgan reflected on her time at Westminster and her hope of helping students achieve their college education, she said, “You can do anything you put your mind to.”
