Steve Morrow
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Alumnus
"I am currently Ombudsman and Child Advocate for the State of Missouri. I was appointed to this position by the Governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in January of 2006. My nomination was confirmed by the Senate in February of 2006.
My undergraduate degree from SBU is in Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER). I also have a Masters degree in Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. My degree from SBU has been helpful in several ways.
First, I made good use of the degree in two church staff positions, serving as Minister of Activities. Second, the degree enabled me to teach in my field of study at SBU from 1975-1992. From 1992-2004, I was the Chief Student Life Officer at SBU, and I was again able to apply my education to my field of service working with students.
In my current position, I am responsible for heading an office in State Government. We provide government oversight and strive to bring accountability to the system. We receive and act on complaints regarding abuse, neglect or other harm to children. We provide an annual report to the Governor and Chief Justice, complete with recommendations for improving the system.
Finally, we try to educate the public about the child welfare system in Missouri and how it works. In all of these endeavors, my education at SBU has been invaluable. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of my education was learning to work with children, youth, and adults. I make good use of this aspect in my current job.
My advice to prospective students considering a HPER degree from SBU is to take your education and your career one step at a time. I have found that one experience in life often provides a foundation for the next experience."
Steve Morrow