Oral History with S. Joanne Morris (B'79)

Oral History with S. Joanne Morris (B'79)

In this oral history interview, S. Joanne Morris sat down with Ayele d’Almeida (’20) and Mysia Perry (’21) on June 25, 2018, in Boatwright Memorial Library.




Over the course of the forty minute interview, Morris shared about her experience as a student in the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business, graduating in 1979. Morris recounts her childhood in Esmont, Virginia, her decision to come to the university over other options, her adjustment process to living on campus, her experience as one of few Black students--particulary one of few Black women--at the Business School and at the University, her experience with social life, dating, and student organizations including SOBA (Student Organization for Black Awareness), work experiences on campus, and finally reflects on her experiences of surviving on campus and how the University of Richmond has changed since her time.

S. Joanne Morris (third from the bottom left) with SOBA, 1978.

Joanne Morris was born in Charlottesville, Virginia and was raised in Esmont, Virginia, a small town in southern Albemarle County. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, Virginia. The fifth child of eleven, Joanne had a strong upbringing from parents who taught Christian values and work ethics. She joined State Farm Insurance Company where she worked 37 years before retiring as a Catastrophe Team Manager. Joanne currently serves as an Independent Business Partner with Karatbars International, an E-Commerce Company located in Stuttgart, Germany. She resides in Germantown, MD and travels extensively celebrating family and friends.

This oral history is available for academic purposes--including but not limited to research by students, faculty, and staff--by permission from the interviewee (S. Joanne Morris). The interviewee maintains the copyright, and must be contacted via the Race & Racism Project (urraceproject@gmail.com) for permissions for use outside of academic purposes.

MorrisSJoanne_d'Almeida-Perry_Public_20180625.mp3

Richmond (Va.)

S. Joanne Morris

Boatwright Memorial Library Seminar Room 2
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173

39:11

June 25, 2018