Morgan Miller is inspiring the next generation of Black women in tech. As a Bachelor of Science in Information junior, Morgan is fueling her love of community into user experience and user interface design.

Growing up in Chicago, Morgan has always had a commitment to building a more equitable future. She saw firsthand the consequences of health disparities as a result of the lack of resources in her community. 

“My hope is that one day I can go back and work somewhere within my community and show children that look like me, especially little Black girls, that technology can be empowering,” she says. 

Before majoring in information, Morgan came to U-M with hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist. But her plans changed when she took her first coding class and found her true calling. What drew her to the University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI), she says, was the combination of creativity and the ability to help marginalized communities access their healthcare needs. 

“I believe in the intersection of technology and healthcare,” Morgan says. “Technology can be made in a way that’s only meant for able bodies and able minds, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” 

When Morgan applied for the Bachelor of Science in Information (BSI) program, the U.S was in the thick of the pandemic. Her mother was getting knee replacement surgery, and telemedicine was forcing patients and providers to find new ways of communicating with each other. Morgan describes this moment as integral in her understanding of how technology could forge new paths for communication and meeting people’s needs. 

Morgan is on her way to graduating with her BSI degree in April 2023. What drew her to Michigan? Being a Posse STEM Scholar, she says. As one of ten students awarded full tuition at U-M through the Posse Foundation, Morgan and her cohort are becoming changemakers in the STEM field. 

Through mentorship, peer support and retreats, Posse scholars stay connected throughout their undergraduate careers and learn how to become the leaders they strive to be. 

“I love Posse so much because I’ve been able to see my growth with them,” Morgan says. “We’re not the same freshman that we came in as.” 

Morgan is also involved in the National Society of Black Engineers, which has given her the opportunity to go back to Chicago and connect with students in her community. This year, she’s excited to continue serving as an undergraduate representative of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee within UMSI. 

“I look forward to being someone who can make a difference through programming and through the use of digital technology,” she says. “Especially in the lives of marginalized and overlooked populations.” 

Her advice for undergraduate students thinking about joining UMSI? Find a path that’s meaningful to you. 

“You will find that you’ll be able to excel within the School of Information and you’ll have people around you that support you,” she says. “Follow the ‘lift as you climb' method. I’m always reaching out to lift someone up, and someone’s here to lift me up.”

Learn more about UMSI's Bachelor of Science in Information program and how to apply.