Morgan McKee, '15

Morgan McKee,’ 15, an economics major with a minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies, received the Charles Norman Award, given to the best all-around graduating senior as voted by faculty last month during the Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony and Honors Convocation. Weeks after commencement, she reflected on her time at the Robins School of Business. 

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, McKee attributes her success and work ethic to her family. “I have one brother who is four years older than me. He attended Duke University and Stanford Law School, and he returned to Dallas for his career. His clear focus on using academics to form a strong foundation from which to pursue career success has always been an attribute of his that I admire and try to emulate. My dad works for KPMG and commutes between New York City and Dallas each week. While it’s hard for him to be away from his family, he loves what he does and is excited to go to work every day, so this inspired me to pursue a degree in business. My mom is a homemaker, and she has been and continues to be the best sounding board, supporter and guide. I trust my family to always steer me in the right direction and help me when I have questions about what steps to take next in my career pursuits.”

In June, McKee will begin her career in New York. “I’ve been hired as an investment banking analyst at Barclays, where I’ve interned in the past. My short-term goal is to learn as much as I can and form relationships that I will be able to maintain and grow throughout my career. I would love to work abroad for at least a year in the near future. In the next five years, I plan to go to business school. My long-term goals include working in a position that allows me to focus on my economics background. I can see myself at the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund eventually. I would also love to be in a position that allows me to travel frequently.”

She looked back on her experience as an economics major. “I was able to take interesting electives that had real-world applications. Some of my favorite electives were Public Economics and Industrial Organization. I was even able to supplement my economics classes with a number of finance courses, which will help me once I begin working.”

Outside of the classroom, McKee served as a senator for the Robins School Student Government Association. "I not only was able to work with my peers, but I also was able to play a role in connecting the student body with the business school administration. As a group we focused on how we could strengthen the connection between the student body and the school as we wanted students to identify even more strongly with the Robins School.”

She added, “I also had the opportunity to serve as a Q-ambassador for the Q-camp Process, which allowed me to give back to younger students while still at Richmond. I was involved in all aspects from recruiting students for Q-camp and preparing materials for the weekend, to serving on panels and giving feedback during the actual events. This was a great way to end my time at the University.”

As McKee was announced the Charles Norman Award recipient, she felt “very happy when I heard Dean Bagranoff call my name. Above all, I felt appreciative. I’ve developed special relationships with the Robins School faculty and made a concerted effort to learn inside and outside of the classroom. I worked very hard to achieve what I did as an undergraduate student. I never could have won the award without the support of my family and professors throughout my entire undergraduate career.”

McKee shared some advice for undergraduate students. “Build relationships with your professors, surround yourself with peers with similar goals and challenge yourself to try things outside your comfort zone from the very beginning. The world is fast-paced, and we have tough competition. It’s important to remain forward-looking because our edge lies in our teaching faculty and peers. If you immediately form connections with these groups, they will constantly push you to take advantage of the resources the University has to offer.”

Photo: McKee and her family celebrating her graduation