Message from the President

Morgan State University New Jersey Alumni Chapter

Warm Holiday & New Year Wishes from the New Jersey Alumni Chapter

To our beloved Alumni, Community Partners, Friends, and Supporters,

As we celebrate this beautiful season of gratitude, reflection, and joy, we extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you for the many ways you have supported and uplifted the New Jersey Alumni Chapter throughout the year. Your time, talents, generosity, and encouragement truly make a difference and allow us to strengthen our impact in meaningful ways.

May this holiday season bring you peace, happiness, good health, and special moments with those you hold dear. As we look ahead to the New Year, we are excited for all that’s to come and grateful to continue building, serving, and celebrating together.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous, purpose-filled New Year!

With gratitude and warmest wishes,

Claudia Ruffin, President New Jersey Alumni Chapter

Forever Morgan, Morgan Forever 💙🧡

NOTE: Please note: Some recipients may see the newsletter truncated. If you notice “[Message clipped] View entire message” at the bottom, simply click it to view the full newsletter and ensure you don’t miss any important updates.

Morgan State University New Jersey Chapter Meeting

Saturday, December 27, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm

Fellow Morganites!

We invite you to join us for our monthly meeting. Our chapter officers will present the latest updates and share their exciting goals for the upcoming year.

Join the Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87318286749

Meeting ID: 873 1828 6749

MSU NJAC: Pride in the Past, Purpose in the Present

🚀 Don’t wait - Join us and help keep the Morgan legacy thriving in New Jersey!

⏰ The countdown is on! Our chapter year runs July 1 – June 30, and it’s time to lock in your 2025–2026 membership with the Morgan State University NJ Alumni Chapter! 💙🧡

Whether you’re a first-time member or making a proud return, your support keeps our traditions strong, energizes our events, and ensures the Morgan legacy continues to shine right here in New Jersey.

Let’s make this year bigger, bolder, and more Bear-strong than ever join us today! 🐻✨

✨ Don’t just cheer from the sidelines be part of the action! ✨

Join or renew today and let’s keep making Morgan history together! 🐻💙🧡

• $85 for non-Life Members (both local chapter and national dues)
• $50 for Life Members (Alumni local chapter only)
• $35 for Associate Members (Non-Alumni local chapter only)

https://morganalumnj.org/membership/

There are three (3) ways you can pay your chapter dues: PayPal, if using PayPal please add $3.00 to cover their fee; Zelle, send to msunaanj@gmail.com. There is no fee to use Zelle; or mail your check to MSUAA-NJ Chapter, P.O. Box 6134, Somerset, NJ 08875.

Morganites may pay their dues for no more than two consecutive years.

🔥 Calling All Proud Morganites! 🔥

Now’s your moment to pay it forward and keep the Morgan Bears spirit roaring in New Jersey! 🐻💙 Join a Morgan State University NJ Alumni Chapter committee and put your energy, ideas, and skills to work shaping future generations, supporting current students, and making a real impact.

✨ Your time + your talents = a stronger Morgan family.



Jump in today let’s make greatness happen together! 🚀

Click Here to Join a Committee

Alumni Mixer: Mingle & Celebrate the Bear Way!

All alumni and friends are invited to join us for a fun evening filled with Bear pride, holiday cheer, and meaningful community impact.

This event supports the Morgan State University NJ Alumni Chapter Fundraiser a chance to gather, reconnect, and give back.

✨ Wear Your Orange & Blue!

Show your MSU spirit and shine merry & bright.

Your attendance helps us award scholarships, strengthen our programs, and uplift the community we proudly serve.

Don’t forget to present this flyer (on your phone or printed) when paying so your contribution is included!

🤝 Food Pantry Donation Encouraged

Please bring a non-perishable food contribution to support local families in need.

The first 20 attendees to will receive a gift!

MORGANITES! 📣 Volunteer Opportunity – College Fair Representative

Our future Bears need YOU!



Help inspire and guide the next generation of students toward Morgan State University and the HBCU experience.

Whether you can greet guests, share your college journey, or hand out materials your presence can make a difference.

Volunteers Sign up today and let’s show up strong for Morgan!

https://signup.com/go/ObMWKqG

The Morgan State University New Jersey Alumni Chapter extends our sincere thanks to the incredible alumni who proudly represented Morgan at our recent college fairs. Your time, enthusiasm, and unwavering support made a powerful impact on prospective students and their families.

Your dedication made it possible for us to inform, inspire, and elevate Morgan’s presence across New Jersey. Your professionalism and Bear pride truly reflected the excellence of our bear community.

With deep appreciation, we recognize:

Mark Anderson

Vanessa Beazer

Korin Cherry

Nyrea Cross

Dawn Williams Lopez

Kathleen (Taffy) Medley

Brenda Perry

Claudia Ruffin

Monica Stith

Emma Pioche-Williams

Your service embodies the true spirit of being a Morganite, and we are grateful for your energy and continued commitment to opening doors for the next generation.

Together, we proudly represent Morgan on campus, in the community, and across New Jersey. Go Bears! 💙🧡

MSUAA New Jersey Chapter at the 27th Annual Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair

The 27th Annual Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair the largest HBCU college fair on the East Coast returned to New Jersey with events in North Jersey on November 20 and Central Jersey on November 21. The North Jersey fair, held at Kean University in Union, brought together more than 40 HBCUs and offered high school and community college students opportunities for on-the-spot admissions, fee waivers, and direct engagement with admissions teams.

The Morgan State University Alumni Association New Jersey Chapter proudly participated, connecting with prospective students and families and sharing information about Morgan’s academic strengths, campus life, and commitment to student success. Our volunteers helped inspire future Bears and strengthen awareness of the transformative opportunities available at Morgan State University.

The chapter is honored to support this impactful annual event and remains dedicated to promoting access to HBCU education across New Jersey.

MSUAA NJ Chapter Connects with Community at Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras 2025 Fall College & Career Fair – November 5th

On November 5, the MSUAA New Jersey Chapter proudly represented Morgan State University at the Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras College & Career Fair, hosted in North Plainfield, NJ. Our team engaged with a dynamic and diverse group of students exploring opportunities in STEM, business, the arts, and other academic pathways.

Volunteers shared valuable insights about Morgan’s strong academic programs, supportive campus culture, and longstanding commitment to student achievement. The event offered a meaningful platform to introduce prospective students to the excellence and legacy of Morgan State University.

This successful outreach effort marks another impactful moment in our chapter’s ongoing work to inspire future Bears and strengthen community connections.

The Devastating Divas for the East Kings County, North Jersey, and North Manhattan Alumnae Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. present the Sparkle & Spice Holiday Party

Celebrating 11 years of the dopest Delta holiday party in all of NYC!

An unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and community impact. This festive fundraiser is your chance to party with a purpose, featuring music, dancing, and Delta sisterhood, all while raising funds for scholarships and community programs.

Click here for more information

🎉 Happy Birthday, December Morganites! 🎉

The Morgan State University New Jersey Alumni Chapter extends warm birthday wishes to all members celebrating this December. 🎂✨

This month, we honor our hardworking, steady Capricorns and our optimistic, free-spirited Sagittarians. Whether you’re setting ambitious goals, embracing new possibilities, or stepping boldly into your next chapter, may the season bring you joy, good health, and meaningful moments with the people you cherish.

December invites reflection, gratitude, and celebration. We are thankful for each of you and for the pride, leadership, and Bear spirit you continue to share throughout New Jersey and beyond. 💙🧡

Here’s to another year of achievement, growth, and undeniable Morgan excellence.

Happy Birthday to all our December Bears! 🐻

Keep shining, celebrating, and showing the world what it means to be Morgan Made! 🎈

🌟 Proud Alumni Spotlight:  A Legacy That Gives: Carl & Joyce Turnipseed and the Power of Alumni Support

What inspires you to continue supporting Morgan State University on both the national and local chapter levels?

Joyce and I grew up in the same Baltimore community and we dated while we were in (the same) high school and at Morgan. We both were blessed to be surrounded by wonderful parents, teachers, mentors and many others who saw more potential in us than we could see in ourselves. They guided, encouraged, and supported us and served as great  leadership examples. In addition to receiving an excellent academic education, Morgan also equipped us with a solid foundation to grow personally and professionally. We are acutely aware that were it not for Morgan, we would not have achieved the huge success, both career and personal that we have enjoyed through the years. Joyce was fortunate to receive a Trustee scholarship, and we established lifelong friends and associations. So, as we have received abundantly from Morgan, similarly we are energized to give back to Morgan! We are also inspired by Morgan’s outstanding leadership and faculty; its expanded curricula and research programs; its beautiful campus and award-winning new buildings; and the anticipation and promise of what the future holds for current and future Morgan students. Joyce chimed in: “When it comes to Morgan, we’re all in!” We also subscribe to the adage, “To whom much is given, much is required”. Moreover, we are inspired to support Fair Morgan -- nationally and locally -- anyway we can with our time, our talent and our treasure. In particular, we are very proud to be associated with and support our New Jersey Chapter that, among other things, extends the Morgan legacy beyond the campus through its many outstanding programs, especially those aimed at encouraging and supporting current and future Morganites and other young people in the community.” 

What advice would you share with current and future Morgan State University students?

Dream big, and then get to work. Begin by setting personal and professional goals for yourself and a plan for achieving them. This means centering yourself with students, mentors, and others who can lend to the vision you have for yourself and won’t derail you from your plan. Invest the time, effort and focus to learn as much as possible especially from your professors, and aim for excellence. Take advantage of the many opportunities that Morgan has to offer, including the alumni network. Expand your horizons and develop meaningful and lasting connections with fellow students and professors. Take some calculated risks, be flexible, and remember we’re all human if things don’t work out. When Carl entered Morgan, his career goal was to become an elementary school teacher. He switched his major to business, and that helped him land a career at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. Seek guidance and help from faculty, advisors, and tutors. Conduct yourself respectfully for you never know who is watching, who you may meet, and who can influence your future. Take care of your health in all aspects including mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Have fun and enjoy yourself! Always believe in yourself.

Is there any additional message or information you’d like others to know?

One thing we did not foresee is that our passion and commitment to Morgan have inspired other people to closely associate themselves as “Friends of Morgan”, visit the campus, attend various events, and donate to Morgan too. A true highlight has been for children of friends to inquire about and matriculate at Morgan inspired by our example. We have also invited guests to Morgan events such as the Homecoming Gala and signature programs, and our friends have been inspired to pour their professional connections into Morgan. Once people see the essence of Morgan, they can’t help but be supportive.

Finally, it has been most meaningful to have our daughter, Danielle, make a personal donation to Morgan as a grateful acknowledgement of the role our Morgan has played in the lives of her parents, and the trajectory of our family. It was a moment of great pride, and we are humbled that people see our lives and our deep connection to Morgan as a reason to become similarly involved.

The Magnificent Marching Machine (M3) Band Show By University Band / Magnificent Marching Machine

It's like "a parade inside!"  The acclaimed, award-winning Magnificent Marching Machine, under the direction of Dr. Jorim Reid brings it's annual celebration of musical and performance excellence. Join the Rose Bowl-bound Magnificent Marching Machine for a rocking, thumping good time. 💙🧡

📅 Saturday, December 6, 2025 4:00pm EST

📍 Gilliam Concert Hall, Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center

🎟️ Tickets for this performance are: 

$20 General Admission; 

$17 for groups of 15 or more;

$15 Seniors (60+) and children 17 and under

Purchase tickets at the Murphy Fine Arts Center ticket office Wed-Fri 1PM - 6PM and Saturdays 11AM-4PM. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com. (Ticketmaster services fees will apply).  

Morgan State University Choir Christmas Concert By Morgan Singers, University Choir

 An annual rite and tradition that rings in Baltimore's Christmas Holiday season!  

The renowned Morgan State University Choir, directed by Dr. Eric Conway presents its Annual Christmast Concert on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM. This magnificent choir will perform with orchestral accompaniment in the beautilful James H. and Louise Hayley Gilliam Concert Hall.  

Treat yourself, your family, and friends to a concert of beautiful Holiday music that will celebrate the Joy of Christmas! 💙🧡

Featured music on this year's program:  

• Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns ~ and ~ 
• We Believe arr. by Bradley Knight... 
• Plus some of your favorite Christmas songs from many genres.

📅 Sunday, December 14, 2025 4:00pm EST

📍 Gilliam Concert Hall, Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center

🎟️ Tickets for this performance are: 

$30 (Orchestra); $25 (Mezzanine); $20 (Balcony)

Purchase in-person at the Murphy Fine Arts Center Ticket Office, which is open Wed-Fri 1PM-6PM and Saturdays 11AM-4PM. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com. (Ticketmaster services fees will apply).  

Chapter Newsletter Submissions

We’d love to hear from you! If you have any chapter news to share, such as Alumni Spotlights, upcoming HBCU events, sporting events, charity events, college fairs, committee meetings or announcements about recent passings, please email us at prvp@morganalumnj.org. We look forward to hearing your updates!

Issue: December 2025