Board of Visitors member Nick Morales ’14 was just four months old when his parents moved the family from Colombia to the Dallas-Fort Worth region of Texas. When it came time to attend college, Morales explored other universities in the state, but quickly fell in love with TCU.
The school’s participation in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl helped cinch his decision to become a Horned Frog. “That win really put TCU on the map athletics-wise and drew my interest,” Morales said. “But what really sold me was the campus tour — seeing the beautiful dormitories and immaculate grounds. I liked the fact that TCU is a small, private Christian school with the facilities and infrastructure to be successful while still maintaining that small, private school feel.” Morales graduated with a bachelor’s in political science and a double minor in religion and business.
Morales went on to attend law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and later opened his own practice in Irving, Texas, specializing in immigration law. He always maintained a close relationship with the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, donating financially when he was able, and readily accepted when he was invited to join the Board of Visitors in 2019. He is currently in his second three-year term. At 32, he is the board’s youngest member.
“During my time on campus, I was very involved with various student programs,” Morales recalled. “After law school, I really wanted to find a way to get involved with TCU again. I knew that as an alumnus, the easiest way was with financial donations, which I do every year. But I also wanted to donate my time. I thought being a board member would be a great way to get plugged in and give back to the TCU community.”
The Board of Visitors’ primary responsibility, Morales said, is to promote the college. Members attend board meetings each semester, during which they hear from Dean Sonja Watson regarding her goals, initiatives and vision for the semester and the year.
“We serve as a sounding board and an idea-generating pool for the dean and her staff, who do a phenomenal job,” said Morales. “We also serve as mentors to current AddRan students, which is a new program Dean Watson started this year.”
Morales said his participation on the Board helps satisfy the responsibility he feels toward TCU and the AddRan College of Liberal Arts. “TCU provided me, a first-generation student, with tremendous opportunities,” he noted. “I’m an immigrant, and I know it sounds cliché, but TCU helped me achieve the American dream. I wanted to make sure I was available to help current students navigate the transition to TCU and have great careers, because that’s what TCU does — it prepares you for an excellent future. AddRan is the longest-serving college at TCU, and is focused not just on academic results, but on the student as a whole. It prepares students with the tangible skills they will need for tomorrow’s workforce.”
