Lafayette College’s sophomore class dean and former inaugural first-year class dean departed the college on Friday, leaving behind nearly a decade of student mentorship in both his roles as dean and advisor to three student organizations.
Dean Brandon Morris will begin a new chapter in his career as the assistant dean of students in a Lehigh University office dedicated to student success on Sept. 18.
“I wouldn’t have been prepared for that position without the things I’ve learned from Lafayette and the colleagues that I have here,” Morris said.
The move to Lehigh won’t be Morris’ first time on the rival campus. Before joining Lafayette in 2015, Morris spent five years working in Lehigh’s office of residence life. He said that returning to Lehigh will allow him to work directly under an old mentor.
Though the college has not yet started a search for Morris’ replacement, Dean of Advising Tim Cox said that they are “working” towards it.
“I am hopeful that we bring in someone that is great, because they have some really big shoes to fill,” Cox said.
In the meantime, First-Year Class Dean Alexis Smith — who called it a “blessing” to know Morris as “a colleague and a friend” — will manage the sophomore class duties.
Morris reflected on his positions as the inaugural first-year class dean and later as the sophomore class dean, starting in 2023.
He said he loved seeing the eagerness of incoming freshmen students, but also found a passion in aiding sophomore students as they worked on declaring their majors and getting into the “nitty gritty” of college.
Morris attributed his love for mentoring students to his identity as a first-generation college student and the help he received from his own undergraduate advisors at the University of Delaware.
“I don’t think I would be sitting here if it weren’t for that,” Morris said. “I always said to myself, ‘If there were to be something I could give back, I would totally want to go into that role.’”
He added that one of his proudest achievements as a class dean was recently helping two students self-design their own majors.
“It may seem silly, but for me, it was a huge win,” said Morris, adding that it was a piece he had been “trying to crack for the longest time.”
Outside his role as dean, Morris was still heavily involved in supporting students, serving as a co-advisor to the Tri-Alpha First Generation Honor Society and the Brothers of Lafayette.
Cristal Castillo-Rodriguez ‘26, who received support from Morris during her sophomore year, wrote in an email that she remembered crying when she found out Morris was leaving.
“For me, and for so many other students, he was a lifeline during times when Lafayette felt overwhelming, especially as a first-generation student,” Castillo-Rodriguez wrote.
Morris said he was particularly proud of his role in co-founding Team Success, a program that assists first-generation college students and students from other affinity groups in adjusting to campus life during their first year at Lafayette.
Alana Klass, a recently retired Lafayette career center counselor, and Louisa Frazier, an admissions staffer, worked closely with Morris on this program. They both recollected shared memories of singing and dancing with Morris at the program’s annual karaoke night.
Frazier praised Morris for his humble character and genuineness.
“Brandon is probably top five human beings that I know, period,” she said.
Morris also looked back on personal changes over his nine-year tenure at Lafayette, recounting how he got married and started a family. He said one of his biggest joys was getting to see his son grow up on campus.
“Being able to take him, I think, opened his eyes to college, and then allowed me to see things in a different way,” he said.
As Morris leaves Lafayette, he said it’s the people and relationships he’ll miss most.
“I’m leaving, but it’s not a goodbye,” he continued. “It’s more of a ‘See you later.’”