magazine

In Honor of
Gwen Morgan ’76MS
Message from
President Jackie
Jenkins-Scott:
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing
of our beloved [Gwen Morgan ’76MS], a longtime
respected member of the Wheelock community and
a national leader in early education and child care. Gwen passed away [Friday,
Sept. 4, 2015] at her home in Lincoln, MA, at age 90.
An inspirational visionary who just never gave up her fight for quality early
education, Gwen advocated for every child having high-quality and affordable
early education and care. She supported the cause for every practitioner to
receive excellent professional development and be compensated adequately.
In 1972, Gwen joined Wheelock College as a faculty member, and her great
impact has been felt ever since. This same year, she pioneered the coordination
of and improvements to services for children in the Commonwealth
as the first Director of the Massachusetts Office for Children. From 1991
to 2004, Gwen was the Director of the Center for Career Development in
Early Care and Education at Wheelock. The Center helped numerous states
develop professional development systems. Additionally, she ran the highly
respected summer program for child care center directors based on research
and business management training.
Gwen was an amazing and inspirational leader and friend to many at
Wheelock and throughout the early childhood community. She leaves a
legacy of quality early education and care for all children that will continue to
impact future generations. I was honored to meet Gwen shortly after arriving
at Wheelock. She was a trusted advisor who was always available to everyone
in our community. Many faculty and staff found their way to the Brookline
Campus to seek Gwen’s advice and support. We are
grateful that she served the College for nearly five
decades. She will truly be missed. I was fortunate to
have known her.
Gwen is the epitome of a life lived in support of
Wheelock’s mission to improve the lives of children
and families during her many decades of impacting
policy and practice. I hope that the many who knew
her from the Wheelock community, and those who
were inspired by her, will continue to support her legacy by advancing the
work she spent her entire professional career pursuing.
A Remembrance with
Love and Gratitude
On Oct. 23, 2015, the Wheelock
community gathered
for a memorial service for Gwen in
the living room at 43 Hawes Street,
where President Jackie Jenkins-
Scott offered opening and closing
remarks. Cheryl Render Brown,
Wheelock College associate professor
of Early Childhood Education;
Joyce Butler ’73, member
of the Wheelock College Board
of Trustees; and Amy O’Leary
of Early Education for All, and a
Wheelock adjunct faculty member,
offered moving tributes. And
finally, Leland Clarke ’75, associate
professor of Arts, played “It Is
Well with My Soul” on the piano.
magazine