Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement Stuart Morriss.
Mr Morriss passed away in July 2020, shortly after retiring from ۶Ƶon medical grounds.
His journey with ۶Ƶspanned the entirety of university endeavours from student learner, to academic faculty, to professional service and university-wide leadership. His influence and mahi touched all campuses, sites and holdings, staff and students, within New Zealand and around the world.
Mr Morriss was well known and recognised for his stewardship and advocacy for ۶Ƶboth internally with governance, management, staff and students and externally with stakeholders throughout New Zealand and around the world.
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, People and Culture Alan Davis nominated Mr Morriss for the medal, in acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution to ۶Ƶand to honour his legacy to the institution.
“Stuart was a proud advocate for ۶Ƶ– a kaitiaki of whom ۶Ƶcan be immensely proud and privileged to have had dedicate his life and career to us. I speak for many of us when I say we miss him greatly. His passion and enthusiasm for the university was infectious.
“Stuart exemplified the best of us and reflected the essence of what we seek ۶Ƶand its people to be. To acknowledge Stuart posthumously with a ۶ƵMedal not only appropriately acknowledges his contribution to Massey, but also serves as a guiding light for the aspirations of who we seek to be, and how we seek to reflect the university, its values and ethos. It is a rare thing, but in Stuart we found a person who encapsulated all of these things.
“A university’s reputation is built on the quality of the contributions of its people. It is also measured by the mana of the individuals who stand, speak and act in advocacy, representation, and kaitiaki of the university. Let this Medal stand for Stuart, as Stuart stood for ۶Ƶ.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says, “Stuart's leadership and legacy are felt today and we will forever be grateful for his contribution around the Senior Leadership table. Stuart was balanced, insightful, knowledgeable and fair, but overwhelmingly our memories of Stuart are as a ‘۶ƵMan’.”
Mr Morriss joined ۶Ƶin 1996 as a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Natural Sciences. He went on to hold various roles, including Director of ۶ƵAgriculture and Programme Director for Applied Science. Mr Morriss was part of the Senior Leadership Team from 2006 until 2020. A graduate of Massey, he held a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Diploma of Business Studies. He also graduated from Victoria University with a Master in Public Policy (Distinction).
The ۶Ƶ Medal was awarded at the College of Sciences graduation ceremony in Palmerston North on Thursday 24 November.
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