Mike Morsberger '87

Morsberger

Mike Morsberger '87, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at George Washington University, has a contagious passion for Radford University. 

"I was the first generation in my family to go to college.  I was a ‘B’ student from RU and here I am one of the VP's running a major university.  Who would have guessed, certainly not my professors.  I learned something along the way from Radford, they gave me my launch pad and prepared me for success," says Morsberger.
 
Morsberger did not just find passion inside the classroom, but outside as well when he met his future bride.  With the goal of starting a new newspaper, "The Perspective," Morsberger and a group of friends needed an advertising manager.  "I remember it vividly -- MaryBeth came over to my friend's house to meet myself and the rest of the team.  We told her about the paper and asked her to be our advertising manager.  She said she would think about it and then left.  As soon as she left I remember telling my friends, 'that is the women I am going to marry'," says Morsberger.

After graduating and starting their lives together, Mike and MaryBeth Morsberger have given back to the University.  "Radford gave us so much.  It gave us a great education, and in a way, it gave us one another and lifelong friends.  We feel very grateful. It seems to us that it is our obligation to give back," says Morsberger.  The Morsberger's generously included Radford University in their estate and made a $25,000 gift to RU for a scholarship in their name.  "In honor of our 25th wedding anniversary, we decided to go back 25 years in time to where we met and express our gratitude to Radford University," says Morsberger.
 
For most of his career, Morsberger has worked with non-profits in fundraising.  "I have been fortunate to work in some of the best non-profit organizations.  For nearly a decade, I worked at John Hopkins Medicine as the chief development officer for their renowned cancer center," says Morsberger.  In 2001, Morsberger had the privilege of being involved when Sidney Kimmel pledged $150 million to cancer research and patient care.  Morsberger has also worked at Duke Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Maryland Special Olympics and the National Aquarium.
"There for a couple years this job was just fundraising but I have learned it is a rare thing.  I wasn't trained in this, I just don't mind asking people for money when it is going towards something I am passionate about," says Morsberger. 

Morsberger encourages students to enjoy every moment of this incredible experience called college.  "As hard as you are working and as difficult as it may be some times, I swear that these really are the best years of your life," he says.  "People should work hard, but they shouldn't forget to have fun."