Leigh Morgan Named Associate Chancellor at UCSF

Leigh Morgan, an executive who has worked in both the public and private sectors in a number of leadership roles, has been named associate chancellor at UC San Francisco, reporting directly to Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH.

“Leigh brings a wealth of executive leadership experience to UCSF, having worked in a variety of senior positions in the nonprofit, government, corporate health care, and education sectors,” said Desmond-Hellmann. “We are very fortunate to have her join our leadership team at this critical point in UCSF’s history.”

Morgan will be a member of the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet (CEC) and will lead large, enterprise-wide change initiatives at UCSF. 

She will represent Desmond-Hellmann on internal and external task forces, committees, and work closely with her and the CEC, ensuring its effective management.

Morgan also will work with members of the newly formed UCSF National Leadership Council to ensure that UCSF’s governance model is highly effective to guide the future of the University.

Morgan says she looks forward to working with the UCSF community, its partners and supporters.

“I am very excited to be a part of a world-class university and its inspiring work to advance health and scientific innovation,” she says. “I've long admired UCSF and getting a chance to support its mission is a true honor.”

Global Leadership Experience

Morgan joins UCSF from Genentech, where she was vice president and Global Head of Human Resources for the global Product Development organization. In that role, she was accountable for developing and implementing workforce initiatives for nearly 6,000 employees across the globe.

“The most challenging – and rewarding – aspect was working in a highly matrixed, post-merger work environment,” Morgan says of that experience at Genentech. “It still amazes and inspires me how much people from diverse backgrounds can do together, even under trying circumstances.

Prior to Genentech, she was Principal Organization Development consultant for GlaxoSmithKline’s global R&D organization.

“Having worked in multiple sectors has helped me get a broad sense of how organizations work, and how to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives,” Morgan says. “Also, having worked for many years in health care R&D organizations, I've developed an affinity for spirited debate and data-based solutions to organizational issues.”

Morgan’s public sector experience includes serving in North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt’s administration, where she played a key role in establishing the AmeriCorps National Service program for that state. Prior to her work with the Governor, she was associate director of the nonprofit Carolina Justice Policy Center, where she led fundraising and statewide advocacy initiatives on criminal justice policy issues.

Active in the East Bay

Born and raised in the Northwest, Morgan’s hometown is Port Angeles, Wash. Today, she lives in Oakland, where she is active in the East Bay community.  

“I am an avid cyclist, a sport that I picked up after I moved to the Bay Area from North Carolina seven years ago,” she says. “I live at the foot of the Oakland hills and have learned to love a good climb.”

Morgan is heavily involved with communities where she has lived and worked, including serving on a number of nonprofit boards and advancing the social entrepreneur sector. Currently, she is a board member of NCLR, a national LGBT civil rights organization, and is a volunteer business advisor with San Francisco-based Pacific Community Ventures, which aims to create jobs and economic opportunity in lower-income communities through the direct support of small businesses.

Morgan received her MS degree in Organizational Development from the American University in Washington, D.C., and holds an AB degree in Religion from Duke University. While at Duke, she was the starting point guard for the Women’s Basketball team. She played for the Blue Devils from 1987 to 1990 and was part of Duke’s first NCAA Tournament squad.

“I play basketball a few times a year and still to this day, every time I get out on the court I am reminded just how much I love the game. It's in my blood.”