“Learning in life never stops, even though the student grows older. And if so, the older I become, the younger I am.” These words of wisdom are penned by Dr. David Morrison, a Davis & Elkins College student from 1975-1979, a trustee from 2015-2024, and a Visiting Scholar on campus during the current academic year. David offers a unique perspective of D&E; its past, present, and future.

As a student in the 1970’s, David and many of his classmates believed they were a part of a movement to launch something new and bold. Now, 50 years later, Dr. Morrison finds himself back on the very same campus as an instructor. How do today’s students compare? Morrison observes current students are more sophisticated with a wider world view than was true five decades ago. Always the philosopher, he muses whether this generation is on the cusp of significant social and political change. Recalling his college days, and the tension between innocence and experience, David quotes from the lyrics of a vintage Bob Seger tune, “I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then….”

Dave Morrison’s journey to D&E was rooted in his Presbyterian upbringing in Pittsburgh, setting the stage for a remarkable career spanning Capitol Hill, corporate leadership, and academia. His academic passions — politics, religion, and history — were nurtured by influential professors like Walters, Phipps, and Ross. He particularly admired Dr. Dorothy Roberts in Political Science, whom he described as “…tough, sharp, exceedingly fair and committed to her craft.” After earning a Master’s in Public Policy, Morrison spent the next 25 years in Federal government service, developing his expertise in national security budgeting and policy through working for the U.S. Senate and House Defense Appropriations Subcommittees and the White House staff. His work was recognized with the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Service Medal — the highest award given by the department to a non-military person. David also spent four years as a Corporate Vice President at Boeing. Later in life, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary, receiving both a Master of Divinity and Ph.D.

D&E’s Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy was dedicated in 2017. Named for David and his spouse, Phebe Novakovic, CEO and Chair of the Board of General Dynamics, this Center provides students the opportunity to engage in social and political issues from a faith-based perspective. In Dr. Morrison’s own words, “D&E is a perfect place to develop a community-based learning center that gives select students the opportunity to grow and practice together the arts of public discourse, ethics, and neighborliness.” Dave and Phebe envision this venture as a leading “Center for excellence,” on campus and beyond, providing a safe and welcoming place for conversation and discourse.

Morrison has led a life of remarkable achievement. A liberal arts college in the Allegheny Highlands, named for two U.S. Senators, has intersected with his life for more than 50 years. He generously gives back to his alma mater to ensure that current and future students reach their full potential and answer their vocational calling. With gratitude for the life and witness of Dr. David Morrison, the journey continues…