Featured Alumna- Dr. Morgan Lancaster Strickland

Morgan Lancaster Strickland earned her master’s in marriage and family therapy from East Carolina University in 2016; she also received the Marriage and Family Therapy Outstanding Student Award. After earning her Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy in 2020 from Florida State University, Morgan is an assistant professor and the interim clinical director at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC.

Morgan says, “I was so fortunate to have earned my master’s from ECU. The faculty and coursework in the MFT program not only prepared me to be a competent clinician, researcher and professional, but also helped me grow personally. The outstanding reputation of the MFT program helped me to feel confident in interviewing at several top Ph.D. programs across the country in the spring of 2016, as professionals in the field recognize the rigor and quality of the program.

“Because of the dedication from faculty in the ECU College of Health and Human Performance, I developed my research skills beyond the classroom to write a master’s thesis that was ultimately published in the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy. Without the faculty’s devotion to my development as a researcher, I would not have had the foundational skills and knowledge I needed to continue pursing my research agenda at FSU and to eventually publish five more papers in peer-reviewed journals before graduating,” she says.

“At Converse,” she continues, “I have the opportunity to teach, supervise and mentor master’s level students, much like the faculty did for me at ECU. I am also a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina, where I provide therapy to clients struggling with eating disorders. I am honored to carry on the knowledge and skills learned at ECU and to be a good steward of the College of Health and Human Performance.”

Morgan’s advice for students? “My advice for prospective and/or current students is to take every opportunity to learn from the incredible faculty at HHP and ECU and be open-minded to novel and challenging experiences. See challenges as an opportunity for growth and stay mindful of the ways you are growing personally along the way.”