Kent State administrator receives royal honor for fostering regional ties to UK

Sandra Morgan never dreamed her life's journey would include being named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Yet, there the Kent State University administrator was last October in Washington, surrounded by family as Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States. bestowed the royal honor upon her.

"There are a lot of emotions tied in this for me," Morgan said. "I'm plain folk. I grew up in Euclid, Ohio. I graduated from a public high school."

But Morgan, who serves as director of strategic partnerships and outreach for KSU's College of Arts & Sciences, has spent much of her career developing economic ties between Northeast Ohio and the United Kingdom; her colleagues say her accomplishments are far from ordinary.

Worldwide, around 500 people are selected for OBE honors each year.

“Sandra’s achievement in receiving an OBE is illustrated by the list of other award recipients over the years, including JK Rowling, David Beckham and Kiera Knightly,” said Neil Cooper, director of KSU's School of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kent State, in a news release. “The fact that a Black American woman can receive such an award from a former colonial power that has fought two wars against America is perhaps indicative of... the scale of Sandra’s personal achievement."

In addition to her role at Kent State, Morgan serves as the U.K.'s honorary consul for Ohio — working with businesses in the state and the U.K., as well as helping British citizens in the United States with visa services and obtaining other forms of support.

A love for international relations and a talent for entrepreneurship

Morgan said she has always had an interest in international relations, but her career moved toward a domestic business track. While living in New York, she fell in love with and married a man who had been born in Senegal and lived much of his life in France.

"It was very cosmopolitan," she said, but the marriage didn't last. The opportunity to travel, however, helped her to realize that she had a talent for entrepreneurship.

Eventually, she joined the World Trade Center's Cleveland arm. Around that time, the United States launched the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was signed in 1992 and encouraged more robust trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Morgan, however, saw an opportunity for the region to reap gains by continuing to cultivate overseas ties while other parts of the country swooped in on NAFTA's opportunities.

"The companies in Ohio had better options in the U.K.," she said. And today, Morgan said, the U.K. is one of the state's top trade partners.

"I'm proud of our relationship here," Morgan said. "I'm proud of being part of a team that makes it possible."

The biggest export from Ohio to the U.K. is aeronautics tools and equipment.

"That is the wave of the future," Morgan said. "Space is our next upward frontier, and we are in the forefront in that."

In 2002, after the United Kingdom decided to close its consulate in Cleveland, Morgan was approached to help ensure important connections continued.

"When they lost that full-time consul, I was asked to step in as honorary consul," she said. "I am proud to say that I was recommended by both sides of the pond."

Granddaughter of a pioneering American innovator

Morgan's distinguished career is in keeping with a family tradition of trailblazing.

In 1923, Garrett Morgan, her grandfather, patented the automated three-signal traffic light.

In addition to the traffic light, he invented what he called a safety hood — a precursor to the gas mask. Garrett Morgan, who lived most of his life in Cleveland, also invented a belt fastener for sewing machines and hair-straightening products. He was the founder of the Cleveland Call newspaper.

Sandra Morgan and her family attended a special celebration sponsored by General Motors on March 4, 2023, at the British Embassy to honor her grandfather's legacy and the century mark for the traffic light.

The event coincided with her birthday.

"The British Auto Club brought down some interesting vehicles," she said, and guests were asked to wear red, yellow or green in keeping with the traffic light theme.

Morgan said she wore red.

Officer of the OBE award a 'ginormous honor'

Months later, Sandra Morgan received her own day in the spotlight.

The Officer of the Order of the British Empire ceremony in October included the presentation of a proclamation from King Charles III and a gold medallion with a red ribbon with white trim.

"It was a ginormous honor," Morgan said. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Joining Morgan at the ceremony were husband Joe Harbert and adult children Gabby Gueye, Matar Gueye and Eliza Gueye — all three are Kent State alumni who now working in the D.C. area.

And the delight of royal recognition just squares with a personal philosophy of embracing adventure while working toward goals, Morgan said.

"Life is such a wandering road. You never know where it will lead. Be prepared for whatever comes your way."

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State administrator named to the Order of the British Empire