New Team Member Feature: DeAndre Morris

In his new position as the Director of Marketing and Communications with the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, DeAndre Morris hopes to be able to tell the story of the library beyond books on a shelf. He wants to tell the stories of the people who make up the university and how the library positively impacts their lives. 

Morris comes to the university with more than 25 years of experience in communications and marketing. For the last four years, he has worked as a Marketing Coordinator for the Dallas Independent School District in the Communications Services Department.  

Morris has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Wichita State University. He has a second degree, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, from Friends University.  

 "I would like to tell the story of UTA. Especially in the context of UTA Libraries, because we get to tell the various stories of UTA Libraries and how we are more than just books," Morris said. "There are all kinds of different stories that can be told that people have no idea about. So that is a priority. But then I would also like to engage with students as well." 

Morris stated that his interest in the communications field started off working with his uncle, who introduced him to graphic design. With his uncle's help, he designed and created graphics on the computer for different organizations like churches and non-profits.  

Morris' interest in communications expanded in high school by working at a local television station. At the Wichita ABC affiliate, Morris hosted a segment where he would share different stories from the African American community.  

The University of Texas at Arlington is not the first time Morris has worked for a university. He served as a recruiter for Wichita State University in 2001 and loved the university feel, the engaging community, and the opportunity to be a mentor to students. Even then, he was aware of UTA and its exceptional reputation in the academic community. 

Morris looks to build upon the strong foundation in the library's communications and marketing department, cultivated by the dedicated staff over the years.