It’s Not About The Start, but The Finish: SU Alum Dr. Morkeith Phillips

“One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned from Southern University was never give up.” With that lesson, Dr. Morkeith Phillips reaches for his dreams and pushes himself.
Coming from the Third Ward of Uptown New Orleans, LA, Dr. Phillips started his freshman year at Southern University in 2000. In the beginning, he wanted to join the Human Jukebox. Phillips explained his first semester of multitasking joining the band and doing schoolwork. “It was really interesting. I had to prepare myself to be in the band. It consisted of dedicated practice and support of being a first-semester freshman,” Phillips said.
He then described how he only had two white shirts, blue shorts, fifty dollars, his ID, and a social security card. For marching band shoes, he used his best friend’s shoes three sizes larger than his original size. Dr. Phillips stated, “I had to do what I had to do to make the Human Jukebox. Once I joined the band, my next focus was how to survive?” 
Although Dr. Philips did the finest he could do and succeeded for one semester in the Human Jukebox, he decided to put his education on hold.
In 2004, Dr. Phillips attended Southern University in New Orleans. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck, he decided to return to Baton Rouge and continue his education at the main campus in the fall semester. Later in 2006, he returned to Southern University in New Orleans to complete his bachelor’s degree.
He enrolled in his master’s degree in Marketing in 2011 at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Dr. Phillips graduated in 2014. Additionally, in 2017, he returned back to school at Southern University in New Orleans to earn his Ph.D., which he graduated with in 2022. 
His campus involvements were the highlight of his college years. Dr. Phillips was a Juke for one semester but also joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was also a student government leader and a member of the Business Club. His special memories include only eating in Dunn Dining Hall. He also had fun and getting financial support from his roommate from Houston, Texas, and enjoying homecoming week.
As of today, Phillips is the director of the Honoré Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement at Southern University in New Orleans. He has been in this position for 5 years now. He recruits young men from the greater New Orleans area and provides them with scholarships to attend Southern University. When male students graduate, they can teach for 2 years. The goal of his job is to increase the number of African-American male students in the classroom and their graduation rate.
To benefit SUBR students, Phillips says, “Make your connections, learn as much as you can on campus, get involved, and enjoy your growth.”