by Katrina Hall
Staff Writer
When walking into Gloria Morrow’s office in the Behavioral Science Department, a black piece of art is framed on the wall, entitled: “And Still I Rise,” a poem by Maya Angelou. In that picture, she describes how the forefathers who were slaves started at the bottom and made it possible for other African-Americans to rise through education and entrepreneurship. It is a cycle where African-Americans that have already risen, reach back to help other African-Americans rise.
Morrow is the University of La Verne’s assistant professor of psychology.
“I’m wearing two hats right now,” said Morrow. “I serve as intertim clinical coordinator for the new Psy. D Program in clinical-community psychology and I teach.”
As a child, Morrow was raised in a Christian family, her dad being a pastor. Both parents and their families are from the Oklahoma and Louisiana area.
Keeping the tradition alive, she married a pastor, Tommy, of Victory Community Church, a non-profit Christian affiliated corporation in Pomona. The Morrows have had this church for the past seven years.
Steven, 29 years old, is the only son of Morrow and is married to Rochelle. They raise a niece, Siannah.
“I was raised in South Central Los Angeles and have been living in Pomona for the past nine years,” said Morrow.
She was raised in a house with four other siblings, three brothers and one sister, with her being the second oldest.
“We were poor and didn’t know it,” said Morrow. “It was the music, humor and great sense of care that exhibited our family. It was highly important.”
Morrow started college late because she chose to raise her son and work at the same time.
“My chance to go to college was when my son grew up,” said Morrow.
Since then, she’s been in college, earning one degree after another.
Being the first person in her family to graduate from college, she received the first degree at the age of 41.
“My parents always encouraged us to go to college,” said Morrow. “All of us are now professionals and it’s because of the family experience.”
Morrow has earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology at ULV, a master’s degree in psychology at the Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, and another master’s degree in marriage, family and child counseling at Azusa Pacific University. She is currently in the process of working on a doctorate degree in clinical psychology to be completed in January.
“We look forward to even bigger and better contributions from her,” said Dr. Glenn Gamst, associate professor of psychology.
After earning a doctorate degree, Morrow would like to practice in a clinical setting, teach and eventually work with the ULV Music Department to gather a gospel choir.
“Gloria has the desire to be the best at whatever she does because of the principals of success that she developed through the years,” said her husband Tommy.
Deciding to go into psychology as a career was due to the human condition that evoked her to a personal responsibility to become involved in the care process.
“In clinical settings, I’ve done work with children and adolescents, individually and in group cycle therapy,” said Morrow.
She feels that it was a calling. “I get the personal and professional satisfaction that at least I was a caring individual to be there for them in their time of need,” Morrow said.
Working with a large variety of students including undergraduates and graduates, Morrow realizes that the two classes come in at different levels since there is a difference in attitude and expectation about school.
“She’s very positive, upbeat and students respond well to her,” said Dr. Gamst. “She’s a pleasure to be around and we are very lucky to have her in the department.”
“I call my students if they don’t come to class,” said Morrow, who also claims to threaten a home visit for absent students.
“It is important for them to understand our partnership to help them reach their goal. We’re in the journey together.”
She feels African-American students need to learn the concept of delayed gratification.
“The faculty is critical in providing help and mentoring students to get from point A to Z,” Morrow said.
In order to get there, they have to wait on some desires by preparing academically.
Morrow believes success happens when it is the right time. She put in the hard work and gained valuable experience.
“It’s my nature and belief that when it’s your time, nothing can stop you,” said Morrow.
“There’s nothing common about common sense and a lot of people think we have common sense and that’s not the case,” said Morrow. “If we are open to change, we will become more wise.”
Morrow is currently working on a dissertation for her doctorate degree, researching black racial identity and acculturation.
Morrow’s hobbies include singing, playing the piano, travelling, reading and going to plays and operas.
She travelled to the University of Capetown in South Africa in July 1996 to present a paper titled “Building Diversity Among School-Aged Children.”
“It was the richest experience of my life,” said Morrow. “I made endearing friendship and was able to see the aftermath of the oppressive state of South Africa.”
She credits her success to her family.
“When I get my degree, I will hand it to my husband, my son and daughter-in-law and my parents,” said Morrow. “They earned it with me.”
Another success among the Morrows is their ownership of the Inland Valley News newspaper, which they have published for the past six years with more than 50,000 readers.
“It’s a community based paper and we are the only African-American owned paper in the Inland Valley,” said Morrow, chief financial officer of the newspaper. “It was my husband’s idea.”
“We service 13 cities,” said Tommy. “We saw it as a great need in the African-American community for a publication that reflected the positive side of people with color.”
Katrina Hall
