Fredericksburg, Va. – University of Mary Washington alumna Anne Morris ’11 has been named one of the winners in the national essay competition sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.
Morris is the ninth Mary Washington political science or international affairs major since 1995 to be a winner in the Pi Sigma Alpha contest, more than any other higher education institution. She was named a runner-up for her essay “Persuasion and the Bully Pulpit: Expanded Evidence on Strategies of Presidential Leadership.”
The essay had its beginnings in a course of Chad Murphy, assistant professor of political science. After the essay won UMW’s essay competition, Murphy arranged for Morris, a political science and sociology double major, to present her work at the Midwest Political Science Association’s annual convention.
Morris works as the executive assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell.
While a student at Mary Washington, she was involved in the Student Government Association, the Student Senate and the Pre-Law Society and was named to the Dean’s List. In addition, Morris interned for Gov. McDonnell and Rep. Todd Platts of Pennsylvania She was vice president of the UMW chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha and was a member of several other scholastic honor societies, including Pi Gamma Mu for social sciences, Alpha Kappa Delta for sociology and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Morris, daughter of Frederick and Caroline Morris of York, Penn., is a 2007 graduate of York Suburban Senior High School.