Tarrin Morgan II has been passionate about gaming ever since he was a kid. Now he’s translated that passion into initiatives like Morgan State University’s esports program, which has served nearly 250 of the historically Black college’s students since its 2020 launch.
His career, and the overall embrace of esports as a learning and development vehicle, represent a sea change from how people viewed video games back when Morgan started playing them.
The New Jersey native and lifelong gamer remembers gathering with friends for “Madden NFL” tournaments on big-backed TVs back in 2005, unaware that he and his friends were actually participating in early esports. Despite facing skepticism and criticism from family, friends and mentors for that time spent gaming, he saw the potential for it to be more than just a pastime.
Nearly 15 years later, the Morgan State (MSU) alum’s childhood passion for gaming paved the way for his becoming the founding director of his alma mater’s esports program.
