The Business of Leadership and Values

Johnny Morris went from flying F-4 Phantom Jets in the U.S. Navy to serving as an executive leader in public holding companies.  Now he’s an instructor for CSU Global.

Business is Johnny Morris’ business; which is why we at CSU Global are proud to have him on our faculty as an instructor teaching a variety of classes such as  Effective Organizations-Theory and Practice and Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility to graduate students in our management and organizational leadership degree programs. Morris graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical Institute, located in Miami, Florida and immediately began his career as a cadet in the U.S. Navy flying F-4 Phantom Jets.  After he retired as a U.S. Navy Officer and Naval Aviator he earned his MBA at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Since then, he has served as an executive leader for companies such as Mortgage Service of America and First Nationwide Bank, just to name a couple. Currently, Morris lives in Palm Coast, Florida. His research interests include integration of values-based leadership skills, values and concepts in the global e-business environment through application of servant leadership and virtual teaming concepts and processes.  He’s co-authoring an article to be peer reviewed and presented at The Academic Forum in early 2015.  He and co-author Dr. Andrew Beal worked together to conduct research for an article they’ve titled Internationalization of South Carolina Enterprises: A Mixed-Methods Study of Barriers and Economic Incentives. Morris was able to go from honorable military service where he got to fly jets, to public and corporate employment, to now teaching and conducting research in business because, “I observed many leaders along the way and how effective leadership behaviors were instrumental in developing productive followers.  As I approached the peak of my career, with retirement looming over the horizon, I wanted to earn a Ph.D. degree in Organization and Management with special emphasis on leadership research, and to teach graduate students whom realize the importance of earning advanced degrees to develop their career aspirations.”

“Earning my Ph.D. and being offered the opportunity share my leadership research with students in a productive educational environment,” says Morris.

He has published numerous peer reviewed articles and compiled and edited publications in the fields of e-commerce, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, information technology, marketing, operations management, sales and teams (just to name a few).  He also makes academic presentations at international juried conferences and frequently conducts seminars nationally in graduate studies and scholarly research.  He clearly has excellent time management and organizational skills because he does all of that and still takes the time to pass on his knowledge and provide mentor-ship to our students. If you’re wondering why he does so much, he says that for him, it’s meaningful to engage in a relationship with adult learners and he enjoys striving to make their learning experience a great journey into higher education. “I am an advocate for students by promoting the following core values; integrity, respect for others, a passion for lifelong learning, and a commitment to their success, trust and fun.” Morris says he teaches at CSU Global because, “I was seeking an opportunity to work with an accredited university that encourages exemplary leadership skills and behaviors.”  His greatest joy in teaching is observing the transformation of students as they progress into leaders making significant contributions to their society.