Middlebury Alum Creates International Connections

When Morgan Jones brought a Posse Scholarship flyer home from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, New York, his mother told him he’d be a perfect fit for the program.

“She was right,” says Morgan, who matriculated as a Middlebury College Scholar in 2000. He thrived on campus as a Chinese language and literature major, also making time for other interests like starting a student breakdancing club.

After a positive experience studying abroad in China, Morgan knew he wanted to return. He stayed in China for six more years post-graduation, exploring work in public relations, hosting a radio show, and touring with the hip-hop music group Redstar.

It was only after returning to New York, however, that he found his calling in public service. Now with an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, Morgan is Chief Operating Officer with The U.S.-China Strong Foundation.

In his current position, he plays an active role in U.S.-China relations through the organization’s 1 Million Strong campaign, the continuation of an Obama administration initiative to reach one million American K-12 students learning Mandarin by 2020.

In the future, Morgan says his love of public service may pull him back to a city agency or even inspire a run for elected office.

As for his relationship with Posse as an alumnus, \"it always comes back into my life in meaningful ways,\" says Morgan. \"I hope to give back more to the organization in the years to come.\"