Meet The Pro Staff: Chris Morris
Meet Chris Morris
Name: Chris Morris
Undergraduate Degree: University of Alabama, BA (US History & Political Science) 1996
Graduate Degree: Sam Houston State University, MS (Sport Management / Kinesiology) 1998
Hometown: Murray Hill, NYC
Job: Director, FSU Campus Recreation
Working at FSU since: August 2011
What was your first job?
My first job ever was working in my grandfather’s shoe store stocking shelves and doing inventory. It was the best “first job” because he was incredibly hard on me… taught me a lot about the value of hard work and the importance of taking pride in my work… no matter what the task is.
How did you get your start in Campus Recreation?
I started working in Campus Recreation when I was a student at the University of Alabama. I was an avid Intramural Sports competitor… we had a men’s team and coed team in practically every sport that was offered. After playing in what I thought was a very poorly officiated game, I shared with the Intramural Director (Dr. George Brown at the time) that I thought the officiating was horrendous. He challenged me to come out and try officiating for myself. That became my first job in Campus Recreation. Being a sports official is one of the most challenging and rewarding employment opportunities out there… not for the faint of heart… but a great college job if you love sports and love people.
What do you do for fun?
I have a toddler. Fun involves being a toddler barista and a toddler chauffer.
Who do you admire and why?
My mom. Aside from being an incredibly wise woman and patient mother, she was also a fantastic businesswoman and leader of people. Even though she has been retired for many years, I like to bounce innovative financial scenarios off of her and also tap into her wisdom about managing a complex organization with highly motivated staff.
What’s your favorite place to grab a meal in Tallahassee?
I love going to Canopy Road for breakfast early on Saturday morning before the crowds show up. Great food & fantastic staff.
What do you do?
I try to make FSU a better and more welcoming place every day. So many of the things that we offer in Campus Recreation can be overwhelming or intimidating the first time a student may try it. Our goal is to help every person who walks into our doors at FSU to “Find What Moves Them” and to feel like they have found their place in our programs & facilities.
What does an average day look like?
I wake up early and enjoy a few hours of fun with my daughter before we go to school (daycare for her and Leach Center for me). I try to get some sort of workout or physical activity each day, and often many, many meetings as we try to constantly improve what we offer our students, faculty, and staff. I try to make meetings suck less.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Our students. They are the best. Smart, fun, dedicated, and hard-working. It really is a pleasure to be a part of this team. My favorite moment each year is the 15 minutes right before (and right after) we open the doors to Leach Center on the first day of the Fall Semester. Our staff has typically been working for weeks to shine & polish, renovate and update all of our facilities… and to see the faces of some who are experiencing it for the first time is awesome.
What advice would you give yourself in college?
Drink more (water). Get more sleep. Don’t wait until the last minute to study for that test. Spend more time outside. Take more road trips. Hold off on the tattoo.
