Morgan Clawson believes in lifelong learning and in making higher education accessible to all.
Morgan Clawson is the senior manager of Education Program Development for the National Association of College and University Business Officers, a membership organization representing more than 1,700 colleges, universities and higher education service providers across the country and around the world.
Based out of Washington, D.C., she coordinates speakers for meetings and conferences and recently worked with Pensacola State College Vice President for Business Affairs Anita Kovacs, who was a speaker at the NACUBO 2026 Higher Education Accounting Forum. When they met at the meeting in Anaheim, Calif., Kovacs learned that Clawson was a proud alumna of PSC, then Pensacola Junior College.
“Looking back, PJC gave me a strong foundation for lifelong learning, not only within the education realm, but also in my professional career and life in general,” she said. “It’s where I first learned that the work happening behind the scenes is just as important as what’s happening in the spotlight. That work ethic has become a core part of my worldview and has shaped how I approach my career, my community and my relationships with others.”
Clawson, then Morgan Simpson, started at PJC as a dual enrollment student. She earned her Associate in Arts degree in 2004, graduating magna cum laude as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and continued at the University of West Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, and later at the University of Florida for her Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
She was just 14 when she decided on a music major and a homeschooled high school sophomore when she began dual enrollment classes at PJC. The support and encouragement she found at PJC helped her succeed as a new college student and prepared her for the next level.
“Fresh out of middle school, I decided to grow up and be a middle school English and Music teacher. It had struck me at the time that most adults still treated us like little kids instead of soon-to-be adults, so I decided to become an adult who treated middle school kids with respect and faith in their ability to be good humans.”
A clarinet player, Clawson had a small music scholarship and worked as an office assistant and teacher’s assistant in the PJC Music and Theatre Department, where she helped with ticket sales, answered phone calls, made copies, supported show prep and more.
“The staff in the department was always very supportive and protective of me, so I felt safe to learn and grow skills that have served me well throughout my career: customer care, attention to detail, strong work ethic, taking pride in doing good work and the joy of seeing others positively impacted by the work done behind the scenes,” she said.
She said the smaller class sizes at PJC allowed her to get to know her instructors and that it was easy to ask for help when she needed it.
“I remember how accessible everything felt and mostly that PJC never made me feel like I was ‘just a high school student.’ From my dual enrollment classes to working in the Music and Theatre Department, I was always treated like I belonged there. The faculty and staff trusted me with real responsibilities, encouraged me to ask questions, big and small, and created an environment where I could learn by doing.”
“Having completed most of my high school courses at PJC, college coursework and format were really all I knew, so it felt seamless going to UWF to finish my bachelor’s degree. It was also easy to transfer my A.A. credits to UWF, and that continuous progress was very satisfying.”
By the time she graduated with her B.A. in Music Performance from UWF, the Bright Futures scholarship, financial aid and her music scholarship had paid for all of her college courses. Financial aid also paid for her educator’s certificate from Santa Fe College in Gainesville, and employers had paid for her second bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree. She worked for a time as a communications specialist for Harley-Davidson in Oxford, England, and later for the University of Florida.
She said, “It’s one of the things I’m most proud of in life: four degrees and no student debt!”
Clawson is happy to remain connected to the world of higher education through her work with NACUBO. In her role as senior manager of Education Program Development, she manages content development and speaker preparation for in-person professional development programs.
“Even though I’m not teaching kids directly, I get to be involved in a mission that ultimately ensures a positive experience for college and university students,” she said. “My own higher education journey has taken many different paths, which has strengthened my belief in lifelong learning and in making higher education accessible to all.”
“Most students never think about what happens in a college business office, but those leaders play a critical role in keeping their school running,” she said. “If I can help the business office folks stay fresh with ideas, practical solutions and a network of peers to lean on, that ultimately benefits students, faculty and the entire institution.”
Her work at NACUBO informs higher education institutions, including PSC, about federal policy updates and provides opportunities for schools across the country to learn from one another.
Clawson has lived in many different places — from New England to Oxford, England, and from Florida to Alexandria, Va. — and she holds a special place in her heart for Pensacola and PSC.
“I made lifelong friends I’m still in touch with today. In fact, I still get lunch with my clarinet professor every time I’m in town,” she said, adding, “I do miss the beach. Nothing compares to Panhandle beaches!”