There are a lot of qualifications that make Michael Morgan a fit for his new role as the Associate Dean for Research at the College of Letters & Science. In the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences he’s made an impact through his research around predicting extreme weather systems, his teaching to students on what tools they need to be successful physical scientists in both the private and public sectors, and his time chairing the undergraduate program. His resume also includes a three-year stint serving as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — a presidentially-appointed position he served in under the Biden Administration — and time working as the Director for the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
But perhaps the quality that makes him the best fit for this role is his natural curiosity, which reaches far beyond his specialty in atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
“Curiosity is what drives me,” Morgan says. “It motivates me to learn more about how the world works and how people interact. Whether it’s a research question on quantum or the social sciences, I have a genuine curiosity about how we do what we do and what tools or mechanisms are needed to solve a problem.”
Often, the answer to “how” comes down to funding. In his new role, Morgan will focus on securing the support that enables faculty, staff and students to tackle ambitious, societally relevant research. His time working in the federal government will be instrumental in helping him open up new doors for the college’s research community.
“This role is an opportunity for me to bring some of the strengths that I developed at NSF to understand how federal funding works broadly and bring those experiences here to campus,” Morgan says. “My role is to link researchers on our campus with opportunities that exist for them to fund their research, support their labs and create research groups.”
Beyond federal funding, Morgan will be working with the Collective for Research Impact and Social Partnerships (CRISP), an L&S organization focused on creating research partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, national security organizations and more. The groundbreaking initiative was stood up under the direction of Gloria Marí-Beffa, Morgan’s predecessor.
“I’m thankful for Gloria Marí-Beffa’s leadership of this office,” says Morgan, who is committed to continuing to grow the reach and impact of the collective. “As our CRISP website states: CRISP is a one-stop contact office for anyone who wishes to engage with the College’s researchers.”
Morgan is also a champion of the Wisconsin Idea — the fundamental belief that the work being done in the University should directly impact citizens of the state and beyond — and considers this mission an essential part of his vision for the future of L&S research. He sees the research at the College level as instrumental in public health, public safety and national security. It also addresses environmental and social issues, while helping to inform public policy at the local, state and national level.
“We are excited to welcome Michael Morgan to the Dean’s Leadership Team,” says Dean of the College of Letters & Science Eric M. Wilcots. “He brings with him a remarkable research portfolio and passion for supporting the tremendous talent we have in L&S.”
Wilcots also expresses gratitude to the national search and screen committee led by Grant Nelsestuen, L&S Associate Dean for Arts and Humanities, for their remarkable work in the hiring process.