Scientist, Teacher, Innovator
You can imagine Dr. Muhsinah Morris’ life story as a movie script: a tale of turning personal challenges into determination into a mission to make the world a better place for everyone. Beyond any Hollywood dreams, Dr. Morris is a proud Atlantan, an accomplished science educator, a technology innovator, and a champion for students who learn differently.
From a young age, she was driven by a powerful curiosity sparked by a personal tragedy. Her older brother was left brain-damaged from meningitis, and five-year-old Muhsinah was determined to understand what had happened. This focus ignited her interest in science, and she soon discovered a deep love for chemistry. She excelled in the subject, and her passion led her to convince her high school to create its own AP Chemistry course. Dr. Morris went on to earn her PhD, launching a career that would blend her love for science and education with her mission to help others.
While teaching chemistry at Morehouse College, Dr. Morris began to feel that traditional teaching methods were holding some students back – not everyone could easily picture complex molecules in their heads. So she had an idea: What if she could let them “see” these molecules in a whole new way? This led her to virtual reality (VR), and she started teaching her Advanced Inorganic Chemistry course using VR, allowing students to step inside a lab and interact with molecules in a virtual world.
This one course grew to many, leading to the formation of Morehouse Metaversity, a groundbreaking program that has since placed nearly 50 courses across all subjects into immersive VR. Dr. Morris now serves as the director of this program, training other educators on how to use these technologies to make learning more engaging and accessible.
Dr. Morris’s work is deeply connected to her personal life. She is a proud mother of five sons, one of whom has autism. As many autism moms have, she has become a fierce advocate for students who are neurodivergent. She believes that all learners deserve access to information and a sense of belonging, regardless of their unique abilities. Through her company and her community work, she is creating a more inclusive world, helping people use new technologies like VR, AI, and spatial computing to learn and grow.
Throughout her career, Dr. Morris’ mantra has been “Do it afraid.” She encourages her students to follow their passions and pursue their goals, even when they feel scared or unsure of themselves. Especially when they feel scared or unsure of themselves.
For Dr. Morris, a life’s mission isn’t just a job; it’s a joyful pursuit of purpose. By making her life her work, and her work her life, she continues to leave a powerful and lasting mark on science, education, Atlanta, and beyond.
