Marcia Morris
Dr. Marcia Morris is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florida, where she has worked with college students for over twenty-five years. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a graduate of Harvard University and Yale School of Medicine. Through media, and public speaking, she is committed to promoting wellness for university students. Her book, The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students, was published in 2018.
Twitter: @marciamorrismd
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
In the movie “The Graduate,” Benjamin feels so boxed in by his parents’ view of success that he goes on an all-out rebellion, but it’s still unclear by the movie’s end if he has found his true self. Seeing this during my college freshman orientation, I wondered how we can become our own person under the pressure of our parents’ expectations. I’ve continued to explore this question in my work as a college psychiatrist, in raising two children, and in my book The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students. This book encourages parents to allow their children to find a major and career truly reflecting their strengths and interests. If Benjamin’s parents had read this book, they might have realized “plastics” was not for him!
Favorite non-reading activity?
My favorite non-reading activities are riding a bicycle, doing yoga, and watching great blue herons fly around my Florida neighborhood.
Is there a work of art that you love. Why? Have you ever visited it in person?
I love any Van Gogh sunflower painting. Each sunflower has its own personality and is in a different state of vibrancy or decay. One of my greatest joys was visiting a sunflower field in Provence, France near where Van Gogh lived and painted. The live flowers were as spectacular as the painted ones.
Vacation druthers… City or Rural destination? Why?
I generally prefer a city for vacation, as I live in a rural area. Pre-pandemic, my husband and I visited New York City every 6 months. The minute my foot would hit the pavement, I would declare, “I can feel the pulse of the city!” I have fond memories of living in Manhattan during our medical specialty training. On Saturdays, we would stroll around the city, grab a slice of Ray’s pizza, and visit an art gallery or museum. New York will be the first place I visit post-pandemic.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
I would love to venture into the world of fiction, publishing a novel or short stories someday. Years ago, I wrote a novel, but set it aside as I was not sure it was ready for “prime time.” Perhaps I will “dust it off” or consider a new project.
