Belonging is central to the Spartan Engineering experience, and Jenahvive Morgan plays a key role in fostering that sense of community. As academic director for the First-Year Engineering CoRe Experience, teaching specialist, and instructor for Introduction to Engineering Design (EGR 100), Morgan teaches the first engineering course to 1,800 incoming students each year, helping inspire connection in the process.
Morgan offers students a hands-on, team-based approach to learning so they can establish connections early. Her students take on projects like designing and building a robot to compete in an arena or creating a mini golf obstacle course with a programmed LED strip circuit. Through these projects, students apply the engineering design process and learn valuable skills like machining, 3D printing, and programming.
“It’s fun to come up with design projects that the students can both benefit from and enjoy,” she said. “In EGR 100, we have students interact with each other in both their design work and their problem solving.”
Morgan serves as an integral part of the college’s successful First-Year Engineering CoRe Experience which offers a living learning environment designed to provide early engineering students with an understanding of the critical roles engineers play in society. This supportive community encourages success for every student and maintains strong connections with industry, giving students insight on engineering in the “real world.”
“The environment helps students get to know each other and learn how to work collaboratively, which supports their academic, professional, and personal development,” she said. “It also helps them establish confidence and build a community they can turn to as they pursue their degrees.”
Morgan says MSU and community have been a significant part of her own journey. “I’m still friends with my freshman MSU roommate as well as other friends that I made here. This is something I enjoy sharing with students since the people they meet while studying at MSU will hopefully also be in their lives for many years.”
Morgan is a dual MSU graduate, holding bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and international relations. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan. Morgan joined the MSU faculty in 2016.
Written by McKenzie Schrah, a student writer in the Marketing Communications office of the College of Engineering
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page