From Behind the Scenes to the Front of the Classroom: Joe Morris Finds His Calling as an Adjunct Instructor

When Joe Morris first joined Ivy Tech Community College in 2009, he never imagined he would one day stand at the front of a classroom.

His career was behind the scenes, supporting college leadership, coordinating workforce initiatives, and serving in administrative roles. Teaching simply wasn't part of the plan.

"I never even considered teaching," Morris said. "It never crossed my mind."

That changed with a simple conversation.

Former Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Rod Brown encouraged Morris to consider teaching a Foundations of Student Success course, believing he had the skills to connect with students. At first, Morris laughed off the idea.

Around the same time, Morris' supervisor, then-Senior Vice President Chris Lowery, offered words of encouragement that have stayed with him ever since.

"Joe, I think you're better than you know," Morris said, remembering what Lowery said to him.

Looking back, Morris says that conversation taught him an important lesson.

"Sometimes it takes someone other than you to say, 'You don't see yourself the way I see you. I think you'd be a natural doing this,'" Morris said. "And so I credit other people for sort of making me jump off into the deep end.”

So, he gave it a chance.

Before his first class, Morris admits he was "literally petrified."

"I thought, 'What am I possibly going to do for two and a half hours?'"

So he did what came naturally: he prepared extensively. He observed classes, took pages of notes, and walked into the classroom determined to be ready for whatever came his way.

Then something unexpected happened.

"I got so much joy out of it," he said. "It's almost selfish. I found that I really, really liked teaching college-aged and adult learners."

That passion has kept Morris connected to Ivy Tech ever since.

Interested in being an Ivy Tech Adjunct Instructor? Apply Today!

Even after leaving his full-time position with the College in 2022 to become executive coordinator of the Johnson County Community Foundation, he chose to remain an adjunct instructor, continuing to teach Foundations of Student Success.

"What has kept me going is the love for the work that the College does," Morris said. "I found that I really love to teach."

That passion has also inspired Morris to continue learning himself. In 2025, he completed a Graduate Certificate in History from Indiana University Indianapolis because he hopes to one day teach history in addition to student success.

For Morris, teaching isn't about delivering lectures; it's about helping students discover what they're capable of.

Many of the students in his Foundations of Student Success courses are beginning college for the first time, balancing jobs, raising families or navigating higher education without a roadmap.

"I hope they see that education should be an adventure and not an ordeal," he said. "I want them to recognize their strengths, own their strengths and connect with people who are there to help."

As someone who once felt underprepared for college himself, Morris understands the uncertainty many students bring into the classroom. That's why he focuses less on memorization and more on building confidence, resilience and what he calls a "growth mindset."

"I see more students who don't think they can do it," he said. "They've got an inner voice that tells them they're not good enough. I want them to see the possibilities. To understand that intelligence isn’t fixed."

His commitment to students earned him the President's Adjunct Faculty Award in 2024, as well as recognition as the Indianapolis campus nominee for the Gerald I. Lamkin Award.

Rather than viewing the recognition as the culmination of his work, Morris saw it as motivation.

"It gave me encouragement to try harder—to learn," he said. "Every time I walk into that classroom, I feel like I'm auditioning a little bit. I want it to be really valuable."

For professionals who have never considered teaching, Morris offers simple advice: don't count yourself out.

"Connect with the people who are doing it," he said. "Observe a class. Test drive it. You may discover something about yourself you never expected."

After all, that's exactly what happened to him.

"I never considered being an educator," Morris said. "Someone else saw something in me that I didn't see in myself."

Morris hopes others will give themselves that same opportunity. Because for him, adjunct teaching has become far more than a second job.

“I think I am a much better person because of teaching,” Morris shared.

When asked what keeps him motivated, Morris said the mission of the College.

"The reason I really, really care so much for Ivy Tech is because, at the end of the day, someone's life gets better,” Morris said. "I see people really working hard to try to get it right, whether they're doing an administrative role, a student-facing role, or a support role. That's why I like working in education."

Help Us Connect with Future Educators

Do you know a dynamic professional who would be an inspiring instructor? Perhaps it's a colleague, a friend, or even yourself.

Please share the Ivy Tech Careers Page within your networks. Potential candidates can explore current adjunct faculty opportunities and apply online.