Our 2021 Commencement Celebrations

Nate Morris is the founder of Lexington, Kentucky-based Morris Industries, and its signature asset, Rubicon, a widely acclaimed software company focused on waste and recycling, which operates in 22 countries on five continents and has a valuation in excess of $1 billion. Morris, a ninth-generation Kentuckian born in Lexington and raised by a single mother in a union household, attended public schools and was the first Kentuckian to be named to Fortune Magazine's "40 Under 40" list and to be recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also the youngest inductee ever to the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Morris is a senior advisor to the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Security, a member of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), and a member of the Trilateral Commission. In 2020, Morris was named a Fulbright Specialist Scholar.

Casey Hayes-Deats worked in theater and other cultural institutions prior to earning her MBA at the George Washington University School of Business. Her experience includes founding The Cake Shop theater company and producing the NY premiere of Martin Crimp’s translation of Pains of Youth, serving as general manager of the internationally recognized Contemporary American Theater Festival, and managing a portfolio of youth education programs at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange. While earning her MBA, Casey served as president of the MBA Association and broadened her experience by participating in the Consulting Community of Practice program, the graduate consulting club, and an impact investing project with GWU's Institute for Corporate Responsibility. She is joining EdOps as a finance specialist, serving as an outsourced CFO for D.C.-based charter schools, and will co-teach an elective on Arts Entrepreneurship at GWU in the fall of 2021.  She is also a graduate of the City University of New York (MA in applied theater), Columbia University (BA in cultural anthropology), and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting’s professional conservatory.

Cidnei Rucker is earning a Bachelor of Business Administration at the George Washington University School of Business with a concentration in international business and a minor in journalism and mass communications. After graduation, Ms. Rucker will be an associate account executive at Amazon Web Services, located at Amazon’s 2nd HQ in Arlington, VA.

Throughout her time at GW, Ms. Rucker was able to experience a study abroad program in London, spring 2020. Additionally, Ms. Rucker was actively involved in several student organizations such as an executive board member of the Chi Omega Fraternity, Phi Alpha GWU Chapter, an executive board member of the Multicultural Association of PreHealth Students (MAPS), and was a mentor in the Black Girl Mentorship (BGM) Program. She also volunteered for Freshman Move-In and was a participant in GW Women in Business.

Ms. Rucker feels much gratitude as a first generation student and is excited to celebrate such a great accomplishment with those graduating as well as family and friends.