Get To Know our President - Juanita Morris
She's up in front of us each week at the podium. Her face is familiar! But do you really know Juanita? Fellow San Juan Rotarian, Angela Schlump interviewed Juanita several times over the last few months and wrote this biography for us.
Juanita Valentin Morris was born in Municipal Hospital in Rio Piedras, the eldest of 3 sisters. Shortly thereafter she was baptized in Iglesia del Pilar, the majestic church in the heart of Rio Piedras. Juanita’s very early years were spent in what is now the Banking District of Hato Rey, enjoying weekends in Old San Juan with grandparents and large extended family.
When Juanita was 8 years old, her family moved to NYC. Juanita spoke no English which meant repeating 2nd grade in the Columbus Circle Elementary School on the West Side. A year later the family relocated to a very diverse neighborhood in Harlem. Starting 3rd grade at the lowest academic level, Juanita’s brilliance soon surfaced. Fifth grade found her in highest academic level. In 7th grade she was inducted into the Carver Honor Society. Even during these early school years Juanita was interested in social issues, joining clubs and groups which had mainly to do with this topic.
Returning to San Juan in 8th grade, Juanita was selected to join a program for talented students at the Juan Ponce de Leon High School. This program had been recently initiated by then Secretary of Education Dr. Angel Quintero Alfaro. Lo and behold! Our fellow Rotarian José Pedro Rivera was his assistant!
Following graduation from Juan Ponce de Leon, Juanita was accepted at UPR. She studied in the Faculty of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology with a minor in English, graduating with 22 additional credits in Education!
During Juanita's senior year, UPR was celebrating the birth of Charles Dickens and had invited a visiting professor to present the Pickwick Papers. While attending this rather boring lecture, Juanita sensed eyes piercing her back. Stealthily glancing over her shoulder, she noted an attractive young man quietly sitting there. Yes, it was Marshall Morris, the first faculty member of the newly formed Graduate Program in Translation!
Wed upon graduation, Juanita began teaching elementary as well as high school; at the same time she matriculated for her Master’s Degree at Inter American University, School of Administration and Supervision in Education. As though none of these activities were enough to keep Juanita occupied, she and Marshall were also celebrating baby Gary’s arrival.
Then came the move to England, where Marshall was attending Oxford University for two and a half years. While there Juanita studied Children’s Theater with Peter Slade, learned the art of making bobbin lace and cared for 2-year-old, Gary.
Upon returning to Puerto Rico, her 30-year career at UPR began, the last eight of them as Director of External Resources of the University System.
Juanita has traveled the world: She has been in Egypt, representing the Puerto Rican YWCA at the World Council meeting, in Australia as the delegate to AAUW in the International Federation of University Women convention, and in Brazil at the Latin American Regional meeting of the World YWCA. In Japan, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of mastering the art of Ikebana, where she participated along with 50 Japanese in a master class, receiving the highest accolade by the Master Teacher for her floral arrangement, which as per the judges captured “essence of the spirit of Japan.” Today she is the only Puerto Rican who holds the title “Third Level Teacher of the Sogetu School.” Juanita has had exhibits at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens as well as at the UPR Botanical Gardens, among others.
Juanita is a member of many organizations both professional and civic: The Council for Resource Development, The Society for Research Administration, Phi Delta Kappa (Kappan of the Year 1996). President of the YWCA of Puerto Rico, Past President of the UPR Women’s Alumni Association, State President of Alpha Delta Kappa of Puerto Rico (Sorority Sister of the Biennium 2012), and Past President of the American Association of University Women - San Juan . As local President of AAUW, Juanita was hosted at the Blair House (the Vice President’s official residence) by his wife Tipper Gore. Among her many distinctions and awards, in both 2011 & 2013, Juanita was named “Rotarian of the Year.” Troy Fields introduced Juanita to Rotary in 1995, where they had met at a barbecue competition sponsored by the The Texas Society of which Marshall was a member.
And now, as President of the Rotary Club of San Juan, Juanita’s goals are to raise awareness of the YWCA’s 70 years of accomplishments in working with young women. The YWCA building in Miramar is open daily to these girls as an after- school retreat for counseling, help with homework, learning arts and crafts and generally assistance with whatever is needed. The facility, after 70 years of use, is in desperate need of maintenance—painting, repairs, bathroom, kitchen, gardening, etc. The government usually contributes a modest amount of money, which barely covers salaries. Juanita’s goal is to raise the funds to renovate this essential center for young women. There are plans for a Chili Cook-Off in February, which hopefully will be a great success and be supported by all Rotarians!
Increasing Rotary membership among young people and women is also Juanita’s goal! To reach out to a younger generation the club will be using social media and radio spots as well as printed media. To increase awareness of the work done by women, five business women were recognized in October during Rotary International Vocational Service month.