Professor Michael Morse Granted Emeritus Status After 35-Year USD Legacy
For me, my career has been about an act of love. I have loved every minute in the classroom.
When Professor of Electrical Engineering Michael Morse, PhD, retired from the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering in the fall of 2025, he left behind an undeniable legacy. As the fourth engineering faculty member hired at the University of San Diego (USD), Morse has spent 35 years helping shape a once-modest department into a thriving, nationally-ranked engineering program.
On June 1, 2026, Morse was granted Professor Emeritus status, a prestigious honor that recognizes his distinguished career marked by impactful teaching and profound service to the USD community.
Engineering education was never just a job for Morse; it was a priceless relationship with the students he so genuinely adored. “When I was in the classroom, I was doing what I loved."
Over 30 years and thousands of hours in the classroom, he describes the dynamic that naturally evolved with his students spanning his career: "When you’re young, they are like your friends, and then like younger siblings. When you're older, you are like a parent or an uncle, and eventually, a grandparent. It is so incredibly rewarding to engage with idealistic young people."
When asked about his proudest student breakthrough, Morse insists it is “impossible to choose just one.” His impact spans a staggering spectrum — from teaching a future astronaut and watching alumni go on to law school, to seeing a former student become a billionaire. But the true magic wasn’t just in the high-profile success stories; it was in the daily moments.
“It was about looking out at a classroom of twenty students and engaging that special one or two who wanted to go above and beyond,” says Morse. “Those are the moments that made it all worthwhile.”
Retirement hasn’t slowed Morse down; it has simply shifted his terrain. Currently, he and his partner Debra are navigating the breathtaking, wild waters of the Pacific Northwest on their way to Alaska. Though delayed by weather and seas and a broken depth sounder, they recently found themselves in Port McNeill at the northern end of Vancouver Island, watching bald eagles by the dozens on the nearby mud flats. They are preparing to cross the Queen Charlotte Sound. Ahead lies miles of absolute wilderness as they weave their way up the inside passage to Prince Rupert.
Yet, even in the wilderness, the professional world hasn't forgotten him; his phone is rarely dormant. Morse earned his law degree while at USD and continues to run a highly successful forensic engineering consulting practice he built in parallel to his teaching career.
"I would love to retire," he chuckles, "but the phone rings and someone wants to pay me just to answer some questions and share a lifetime of knowledge. It’s hard to turn down that kind of opportunity."
Though his Emeritus status officially grants him practical perks like continued access to USD’s library, the true value of the title is emotional. It represents an acknowledgement by the university of his dedication and a permanent bond with the USD Torero community.
True to his generous spirit, Morse has made a promise that if invited to return to campus as an adjunct professor to teach specialized courses in forensic engineering and the intersection of engineering and the law, he plans to donate every penny earned from adjunct teaching back to the engineering program for the benefit of the students.
A multi-decade university career rarely comes without its storms. For Morse, this honor is far more than an award; it is a profound acknowledgment of his early sacrifices and some unfortunate pain — bringing a 35-year commitment full circle. With immense gratitude for the university he poured his life into, Morse reflects humbly: "I end my career with the ultimate acknowledgement by the university that my career had meaning. It is the cherry on top of the sundae of my career."