Early in her career, Camie Morrison RSBC'78 followed the traditional path for an accounting graduate, enjoying success as an accountant and consultant for multiple Big Four firms. While the work was challenging, she knew she wanted more in the long term.
“After a while, you realize you are on the road a lot of the time,” said Morrison. “I knew I wanted more from life—something a little more creative.”
Morrison was serving on the Dean’s Council for Arts & Sciences when she heard about a Rutgers University–Camden job opportunity that would allow her to be more creative while still using the professional skills she gained in the corporate world.
“I had had such a great experience as an undergrad, and I loved Rutgers,” said Morrison. “It just felt like a wonderful opportunity, and it felt like I was coming home."
After joining Rutgers–Camden in 2002, Morrison was most recently promoted to director of corporate engagement and compliance last year. In this role, she is leveraging her knowledge of business and finance to bolster the university’s research enterprise, building partnerships with businesses, government agencies, and individuals conducting research at Rutgers–Camden.
“We want to broaden our reach and our impact,” said Morrison. “We want to be able to move from simply helping to secure funding for critical research to creating opportunities for translational research—meaningful innovation that will have a practical application in the real world.”
One of the ways Morrison is supporting this mission is by working with the Rutgers–Camden Research Office on an exciting new initiative: Emerge, powered by Halo, an AI-based platform. This National Science Foundation-supported project connects industry teams with a curated network of top innovators across emerging research institutions.
The inaugural 2025 cohort of higher education institutions invited to participate focuses on advanced materials and is made up of 48 institutions—including Rutgers–Camden—across the United States. Described as “LinkedIn for corporations looking to collaborate with researchers and scientists,” the project looks to facilitate networking opportunities and provides resources to help institutions grow their research capabilities.
“It is designed to bridge the gap,” said Morrison. “It is another way for us to engage with industry and the world beyond our campus to create dynamic partnerships that produce innovative advancements.”
Another program Morrison helps promote on campus is the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps, known as I-Corps. This experiential training program prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory, accelerating the economic and societal benefits of NSF-funded and other basic research projects that are ready for commercialization. The I-Corps Northeast Region Hub offers resources for researchers and non-university teams interested in the commercial viability of their innovation, discovery, or process in science, technology, or engineering.
"Programs like Emerge, I-Corps, and others are also essential to our ability to connect to the world beyond our campus," said Morrison. "It's more than research; it’s civic engagement and outreach."
Supporting the Rutgers–Camden community is important to Morrison. She serves as a member of the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts (RCCA) Advisory Council, providing guidance to the leadership of the RCCA on the performances, exhibitions, educational programs, and community projects presented throughout the year.
When asked what advice she would share with current students looking to the future, Morrison reflected on her nontraditional career path and the fulfillment she draws from supporting research and innovation on campus.
"If you have the opportunity to go into the corporate world after graduation, definitely take it because the training and experience is a wonderful foundation for your future," said Morrison. "At the same time, don't be afraid of change. The world is evolving in exciting ways, and you want to be open to what may come along."
