Vicki Morgan will retire in March 2026 after 33 years of service to the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, leaving behind a legacy of care, dedication, and excellence.
Victoria Morgan, affectionately known as Vicki, the business manager for the Cell Biology and Physiology Department (CBP) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has always made the faculty, students, and staff feel cared for and supported. After 33 years of helping the people of CBP, Morgan is set to retire in March 2026.
Morgan joined the department in 1992 and witnessed its growth in both personnel and funding over the years. With a college degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in communications, she initially joined the department as an accounting technician.
“I fell into the accounting job but found I really liked the precision of accounting work. There were no gray areas,” said Morgan. She continued to learn and grow her skills in accounting, eventually becoming the department’s business manager in 2017.
“Vicki has done an incredible job in leading our unit through a variety of fiscal and policy changes and new initiatives. It is to her credit and exceptional fiscal management that we have been able to rise as one of the nation’s leading cell biology and physiology departments,” said Kathleen Caron, the department’s chair.
Quietly helping research success
Morgan’s can-do approach gave faculty the reassurance and support they needed to excel in their research programs. “Vicki met the many needs of a demanding department with skill, effort, and a positive attitude that I am confident will leave a lasting imprint,” said Ben Philpot, a professor in CBP who has worked with Morgan for about 20 years.
Over the years, he and other research faculty have had many requests for Morgan. “We could always count on Vicki to deeply research different financial issues and come back to the table with innovative, accurate, and wise solutions,” said Caron. Whether it was finding a way to hire a consultant, adding someone onto conference travel plans at the last minute, or working out a way to transfer money to an internal collaborator, Morgan always seemed to find a way to accommodate and help.
“Vicki always met me with a ‘sure, I’ll see if I can find a way to do that’ attitude and never complained. I couldn’t have navigated complicated finances and financial situations without Vicki’s unwavering support, and for that, I am indebted,” said Philpot.
Leading with care
Morgan’s administrative team echoed Caron’s and Philpot’s sentiments. As a people manager, Morgan demonstrated poise, compassion, and thoughtful leadership. “Vicki never gets stressed, well, at least she doesn’t show it. She’s always steady and takes time to speak to others, even when she really doesn’t have the time,” said Tonya Murrell, the department’s account manager who has worked with Morgan for 18 years.
Before the pandemic, the administrative team would get together for parties around the holidays. As a leader, Morgan made sure that everyone felt included and happy. She was even known to take the worst white elephant gifts at the holiday parties so that everyone left with something they liked. “Vicki is one of a kind and will be missed by all. She is not just a friend; I care for her just like family,” said Murrell.
Many of the friendships Morgan developed over time with CBP faculty and staff persist to this day. “Being able to work with good people, whether admin staff or faculty, has kept me in the same department for this many years,” said Morgan. Her advice for the next business manager is to take the time to understand the people and the work. She also advised approaching each new change or challenge with flexibility.
“There’s always something new to learn. Since I have been here, I learn something new every day. That’s what makes the job so interesting. You don’t have to have all the answers. If you know who to connect people with, then you’re okay,” said Morgan.
Looking forward
Morgan’s impact on CBP cannot be measured in budgets or spreadsheets, but in the trust, friendships, and sense of community she built. As she steps into retirement, she’s looking forward to spending more time with her family, including her siblings and 92-year-old mother. She’s also looking forward to spending more time with her grandkids.
“I’m proudest of pushing myself and realizing that I could be a good business manager,” said Morgan. For 33 years, Vicki Morgan made the people of CBP feel valued and supported, a legacy that will remain in the hearts of faculty and staff.
Written by Tiffany Garbutt, PhD