Interview with Tarrin Morgan II

Summary

Tarrin Morgan II is a man of many talents and possess wisdom beyond his years. He is a tried and true student affairs professional that has been working in the higher education field for nine fulfilling years. “Students are not an interruption to our work, students are our work” is Tarrin’s professional philosophy which is backed with his actions of putting students first, advocating for them at all times, and his reputation of exceeding expectations of students and colleagues. In addition to being an educator, he has been doing videography for over 10 years. He has interned for Emmis Communications (specifically with radio station, Hot 97), done multiple videos for Morgan State University, and does freelance work such as weddings, commercials for businesses, etc. Tarrin originally created the Real Talk Session Series to address the issues that students and staff of color face at a private higher education institution in New Jersey. The Real Talk Session Series was birthed on November 15, 2017 when he held a conversation surrounding race, gender, and leadership with award-winning researcher, political commentator, and professor, Dr. Wendy Osefo. The Real Talk Session Series evolved into what it is today when Tarrin faced an extremely tough battle with depression and anxiety all throughout 2018. He was able to turn a negative situation into positive as well as figure out a way to fuse his passions of education and videography in his own unique way in efforts to maximize his positive impact on the world. Tarrin holds a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland), a Masters degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, New Jersey), and a Bachelors degree in Communication with a minor in Sociology from William Paterson University (Wayne, New Jersey). He aspires to obtain his Doctorate degree in Education in the near future. Tarrin sits on the advisory board for the NJ National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) African-American support group, AACT-NOW and is a certified NAMI NJ In Own Own Voices (IOOV) presenter. He also co-hosts a monthly men's healing event called Messages For Men which is held the first Saturday of the month at Above Art Studios in New Brunswick, NJ.