Shawnee State University's president, Rita Rice Morris, Ph.D., brings vision and leadership to SSU, the Tri-State, and the Appalachian region of Ohio , ensuring the institution continues to be a university that serves the residents of the area, and one that offers excellent educational opportunities for students from the region and elsewhere.

A native of California , Dr. Morris was appointed as the fifth president of SSU in December 2002, and began her duties in May 2003.  She has over 30 years of experience in higher education serving as professor, dean, and provost/vice president for academic affairs at institutions like SSU.  Her Ph.D. is in communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo (1978), M.A. is in speech communication education from Northern Illinois University (1970), and B.A. is in speech communication from California State University at Long Beach (1968).  She also studied university management development at Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University .

Dr. Morris serves on the Board of the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE), the Oak Hill Community Development Corporation, the Southern Ohio Medical Center Board of Directors, the Shawnee State University Foundation, OSU South Center Endeavor Center, and the Information Technology Alliance of Appalachian Ohio (ITAAO). In addition, she serves on the Association of American State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) professional development committee, Council of State Representatives, and Board of Directors; the American Council on Education’s Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness, the America Mideast Conference of Presidents, Educate the Tri-State, the Inter-University Council of Presidents, and The Partnership for Continued Learning and the Ohio College Association.