Global conservation leader Jennifer Morris to deliver Maryville College 2026 Commencement address
Jan. 15, 2026
Shortly after her own graduation from Emory University, Jennifer Morris — the chief executive officer of The Nature Conservancy, whom Maryville College has announced as the speaker for its May 9th Commencement exercise — left the United States for stints as an English teacher in rural Japan and in the African country of Namibia.
Those experiences, she said, will shape some of the remarks she’ll share with the Class of 2026 during the graduation ceremony. Aided by a liberal arts education, those newly minted MC alumni have boundless opportunities to step into an unknown future in which they can make a profound difference, Morris added.
“The early years of my career after college were instrumental in shaping my career and worldview,” she said. “It taught me that being thrown into unfamiliar cultures and uncomfortable situations was critical for my own growth and perspective on my own personal history. Curiosity and continuous learning make us whole, and the best ideas often come from voices you didn’t expect, so pushing yourself to be exposed to new ideas, new voices and to get out of your comfort zone can help build the bridges we need.
“And we need this now more than ever. I’ll remind graduates that while fear is natural, we have to crush it and never let it be the reason we stop, and that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Leadership isn’t about certainty; it’s about courage, humility, and the willingness to keep learning.”
From the classroom to the world stage
Morris leads one of the world’s most influential conservation organizations, guiding global efforts to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and advance nature-based solutions that benefit both people and the planet. She brings more than 25 years of experience in conservation leadership, strategy and international collaboration to the role, and her invitation to speak at Commencement is a timely one, said Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker, given that her leadership and perspective align closely with the institution’s evolving academic priorities.
“Jen Morris is a timely and relevant Commencement speaker for Maryville College, as we plan and build robust support for the future Alexander Institute for Conservation Leadership and the Sciences, an initiative which will be truly transformational for our region,” Coker said. “As the College increasingly focuses on this richly biodiverse region we call home, we want to applaud and amplify The Nature Conservancy’s efforts, and we look forward to recognizing Jen Morris’s extraordinary leadership.”
In addition to her bachelor’s, Morris earned her master’s from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and prior to The Nature Conservancy, she held a series of leadership roles with Conservation International, eventually earning the chief operations officer role and presidency during a time of rapid growth by the organization. Before that, those rural teaching gigs right out of college led to work in micro-finance at Women’s World Banking, and over the course of her career, Morris has been named to TIME’s inaugural Climate 100 list of leaders, Forbes’ 50 over 50 for Impact and Virginia Business’ Virginia 500 Power List. She serves on a range of global councils including the Climate Advisory Board for Norges Bank Investment Management and Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value Advisory Council, and she also chairs the board of Enduring Earth, an ambitious collaboration that works with stewards of the environment to accelerate conservation worldwide.
As CEO of The Nature Conservancy, she leads a team of nearly 6,000 staff members working in more than 80 countries to address the dual crises of climate emergency and biodiversity loss. At Maryville College, the Nature Conservancy’s involvement in the recently announced Alexander Institute goes beyond Morris’ Commencement speech.
Dr. Bill Frist, retired U.S. Senate majority leader and current chair of the conservancy’s Global Board, serves as the honorary chair of the Alexander Institute Leadership Council, and discussions are ongoing about ways to broaden collaborations between the College and the conservancy as the institute becomes a reality. In the meantime, the College will bestow upon Morris an honorary doctorate of public service during May’s graduation ceremony, which will take place in Humphreys Court, located between Anderson and Fayerweather Halls on the MC campus. The Commencement ceremony will also be livestreamed on the College’s website.
“The Alexander Institute is a fantastic opportunity to advance critical environmental research, train up-and-coming conservation leaders, and make an impact in Tennessee and beyond,” Morris said. “I’m particularly excited about its location and focus on the Appalachian region, which is a globally critical ecosystem. The Appalachians store nearly 25% of U.S. forest carbon, are home to over one‑third of U.S. plant species, and provide drinking water to 36 million people.
“Being based in the Southern Appalachians positions the Alexander Institute as a laboratory for students to gain hands-on conservation experience and see the benefits of protecting nature in their own communities. The Alexander Institute is positioned to advance global conservation goals because it combines rigorous environmental science education with conservation leadership development. Its location in the Southern Appalachians — a globally critical biodiversity hotspot — gives students hands-on experience in one of the most ecologically rich regions on Earth.
“That grounding in real-world conservation challenges prepares graduates to carry forward lessons learned here to projects across the globe tackling the climate and biodiversity crises,” she added. “Institutions like this can create leaders who understand both the science and the collaboration needed to drive systemic change.”
Building leaders the planet needs
And a liberal arts education, she said, can play a prominent role in shaping new generations of conservation leaders. At The Nature Conservancy, she added, there’s an emphasis on the connection between ambition and execution in the pursuit of goals — connecting science to policy, economics to community and data to human stories, for example. Liberal arts colleges like MC “are uniquely suited to develop that kind of integrative, values-driven and creative leadership,” she added, and leaders with such a background will be integral to future conservation work.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that conservation is often more about people than nature,” she said. “Building trust and partnerships with local communities, governments, and the private sector is essential for lasting impact. While the old ways of thinking about conservation closed people off from nature — saying that if we wanted to protect nature, we couldn’t touch it — we now understand that conservation is about supporting and guiding people’s relationship with nature and the communities that depend on it.
“I’ve also learned the importance of adaptability. The challenges we face today require bold, science-based solutions and the courage to innovate. I’m a big believer in the power of radical collaboration. No single person or organization can solve these crises alone, so working across sectors and collaborating with unexpected partners has been a guiding principle throughout my career.”
That experience, Coker said, will undoubtedly result in a Commencement speech worthy of changing, challenging times that still offer unprecedented opportunities for those whose career paths begin with a diploma from Maryville College.
“Our graduates have a 206-year history of going out and doing good in the world,” Coker said. “I know the Class of 2026 will appreciate Jen Morris’s message of what our world — and what our planet — requires of them, moving forward.”