2025 President’s Award Recipients

The President’s Award acknowledges the spirit of generosity and dedication that helps support Shepherd University. The award is presented by President Mary J.C. Hendrix at the Joseph P. McMurran Society and President’s Award Dinner Reception to recognize exemplary service to Shepherd and the broader community.

This year’s recipients include EMS Chief Marshall DeMeritt ’09, Fire Chief Ross Morgan, Eric ’95 and Joy ’91 Lewis, and Tracy Zullo ’95. Learn more about the 2025 President’s Award recipients below.

EMS Chief Marshall DeMeritt ’09

Marshall DeMeritt is a highly accomplished IT executive, certified project management professional, and dedicated public servant with over 18 years of experience leading mission-critical programs in both government and nonprofit sectors. A native of Luray, Virginia, Marshall’s early years on a farm instilled in him a deep respect for hard work, accountability, and service—values that have shaped both his professional journey and community involvement.

Marshall is a proud alumnus of Shepherd University, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing. Drawn to Shepherd for its welcoming campus community and hands-on academic approach, he found an environment that allowed him to engage closely with faculty and the university’s executive leadership. His experience at Shepherd laid the foundation for his professional success, teaching him the importance of collaboration, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. He went on to earn a Master of Science from West Virginia University in 2014 and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Project Management from Villanova University in 2021.

Professionally, Marshall serves as Managing Director at Synergy Business Innovative Solutions (Synergy BIS), where he oversees the companies DHS portfolio, including the United States Coast Guard’s largest software development program at the service center in Kearneysville, West Virginia. In this role, he leads a portfolio valued at over $400 million, manages a workforce of over 250 professionals, and directs a wide range of IT projects—including legacy application efforts, enterprise solution development, and custom application development initiatives.

Marshall is widely recognized for his expertise in Agile transformation, IT governance, and process improvement. He brings a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale IT projects on time and within budget, while aligning strategic objectives with measurable outcomes, earning him recognition as a 2025 Engage Homeland and National Security Top 100 in 2025. He holds numerous industry-recognized certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP®), Six Sigma, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM®), SAFe Agilist®, ICP-Agile®, and ITIL v3®, as well as advanced training in leadership, and business process optimization.

In parallel with his professional endeavors, Marshall has remained deeply committed to public safety and community service. For over a decade, he served as the Chief of Emergency Medical Services for the Shepherdstown Fire Department. During his tenure, he spearheaded major improvements in departmental readiness, founded the SFD Educational Institution, implemented comprehensive training protocols, and established partnerships with regional emergency response agencies to enhance mutual aid collaboration. Under his leadership, the department achieved measurable reductions in response time, improvements in volunteer engagement, and service quality. He led efforts to secure vital grant funding for equipment modernization, expanded community outreach programs, and introduced standardized operating procedures that significantly improved safety and operational consistency across the region. Marshall also championed professional development for EMTs and volunteers, increasing certification rates and elevating the department’s reputation as a leader in volunteer EMS services.

Marshall currently serves as Fire Captain and continues to respond to emergency calls. He is a certified firefighter, emergency vehicle operator, Emergency Medical Technician, and nationally certified EMS instructor. He also provides community instruction in CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed response to over 100 students annually. His leadership in the department has had a lasting impact on emergency readiness and response across the region.

Marshall’s civic involvement extends beyond emergency services. He is an active member of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, where he serves as a commissioner of the Covenant Sports League—coaching youth in football, basketball, and soccer from kindergarten through eighth grade. He also serves where needed on additional local boards and currently holds a seat on the Shepherd University Alumni Association Board of Directors, where he supports alumni engagement and student success initiatives.

Marshall resides in Shepherdstown with his wife Krystle, a fellow Shepherd graduate (Class of 2009), their two children, Lily and Maverik, and two dogs. He remains closely connected to the community (both Shepherdstown and Shepherd University) and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders—whether in technology, emergency services, or community development.

Fire Chief Ross Morgan

Ross Morgan has dedicated his life to the Shepherdstown community through the fire service. Following in the footsteps of his father, Chief Emeritus D. Lee Morgan, Ross began riding along on fire calls at a young age, officially joining the department as a Junior Firefighter at age 16. By 18, in 1979, he became a full member of the Shepherdstown Fire Department (SFD).

In 2006, Ross was elected by the department membership to serve as Fire Chief, a position he continues to hold with distinction. As Chief, Ross has not only led emergency response operations but has also been instrumental in developing long-term strategic initiatives that strengthen the department’s capabilities and community impact.

One of Chief Morgan’s most significant contributions was the creation of the department’s Live-In Program, an initiative he led with other department members that offers qualified participants—who are students or employed individuals aged 18 and older—free and comfortable living accommodations at the fire station in exchange for active participation in emergency responses. Live-in members are fully integrated into both the department and the wider Shepherdstown community, gaining invaluable experience while ensuring rapid and consistent staffing for emergency calls.

Under Chief Morgan’s leadership, every front-line apparatus in the department has been replaced, ensuring that SFD personnel respond to emergencies with modern, reliable, and fully equipped vehicles. This includes upgrades to the department’s 2 engines, ladder truck, and first responder/EMS units—improvements that enhance both firefighter safety and operational efficiency. His commitment to maintaining state-of-the-art equipment and professional training reflects his broader vision of preparedness, professionalism, and pride in service, a passion and legacy he continues in his father’s honor.

Chief Morgan is also a respected voice among fire service leadership in Jefferson County. He is actively involved in countywide coordination efforts, through the Fire and Rescue Association, collaborating closely with other fire chiefs to strengthen interagency cooperation and mutual aid. He plays a key advisory role in the development and implementation of Jefferson County’s emergency communications protocols, ensuring consistent procedures and efficient dispatch operations. His leadership has contributed to the creation and refinement of standardized countywide policies and procedures for fire and EMS operations—efforts that have improved safety, response times, and interoperability across all Jefferson County departments.

Thanks to Chief Morgan’s persistence and refusal to accept the status quo, the Shepherdstown area—and particularly Shepherd University—will soon benefit from a new communications tower located behind the Shepherdstown Fire Department. This critical improvement is the result of an innovative partnership between the Shepherdstown Fire Department, the Jefferson County Commission, and Shepherd University. Together, they are addressing the long-standing issue of poor, and at times nonexistent, communication for first responders—an initiative that will undoubtedly save lives.

Ross is the son of MaryAnn and D. Lee Morgan and has been married to his wife, Sara, for 39 years. Together, they have two sons: Zachery, a member of the Martinsburg Fire Department, who is married to Priscilla, the Chief of Sharpsburg EMS; and Justin, owner of Morgan Lawn and Services, who is married to Ashley, a Jefferson County school teacher. They have one granddaughter, Adelynn.

Throughout his decades of service, Chief Morgan has been recognized with numerous departmental and regional awards, including:

Top EMS Responder (multiple years); Top Fire Officer Responder (multiple years); Top Responder Fire Officer (multiple years), Member of the Year Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, Fire Line Officer of the Year, (multiple years); Most Valued Fire Officer; Outstanding Fire Service Provider presented by Jefferson Co Chamber of Commerce; Members Choice Outstanding Fire Officer, (multiple years); and was recognized for his outstanding service during a lifesaving rescue involving a motor vehicle fire in 2013.

Chief Ross Morgan’s unwavering commitment to service, his role in shaping the future of SFD, and his deep roots in the community continue to make him a respected and influential leader in Jefferson County public safety.

Eric Lewis ’95, CPA 

Eric Lewis is a partner with OLL CPAS, a certified public accounting firm with offices in Shepherdstown and Martinsburg. He is also CFO of Civil-Military Innovation Institute Inc, a Morgantown-based federal contractor to the Department of Defense that focuses on linking universities with DOD contracts. Eric has served on the Board of Directors of Jefferson Security Bank since 2004.

Eric graduated from Shepherd College in 1995 with a BS in Accounting and has spent the past thirty years working in public accounting and business finance. Eric served on the Shepherd University Board of Governors from 2016 to 2024, serving as Chair from 2018 to 2022. Eric was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education, which worked on the Higher Education Funding Formula and drafted a white paper on higher education deferred maintenance funding that led to working with Delegate Eric Householder on a $200 million fund for higher education deferred maintenance. Eric also worked with Senator Patricia Rucker and Delegate Paul Espinosa on various bills that helped advance Shepherd University.

Since 2016, Eric has helped secure over $46 million dollars for Shepherd University. This funding is made up of $14 million in State grants for deferred maintenance, a $2.5 million annual increase to the State Funding Allocation starting in fiscal year 2020, and a $30 million dollar grant secured in 2024 from Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Legislature for the West Campus Enhancement project. The West Campus Enhancement project will include a $20 million dining hall and athletics facility as well as dorm renovations, a new maintenance building, and other improvements to enhance the student experience.

Eric is now Chair of the West Campus Enhancement Project Committee, which is working to design, plan, and manage the construction of the new Multi-Purpose building and other projects included in the $30 million grant. Prior to his term on the Board of Governors, Eric co-founded the Shepherd University Athletic Club and served on the Board of Directors of the Shepherd University Alumni Association and Shepherd University Foundation.  Eric lives on a historic farm in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with his wife Joy.  Eric and Joy have two grown children, Chandler of Morgantown, WV and Maclaine of Austin, TX.

Joy Lewis  ‘91

Joy Lewis is a Realtor with Colliers International focusing on industrial commercial real estate in the I-81 corridor and Greentree Realty focusing on residential real estate in the Eastern Panhandle. Joy graduated from Shepherd College in 1991 with a BA in Education.

Joy dedicates much of her time to her volunteer efforts, including hosting fundraisers at their farm in Shepherdstown for various organizations like CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, Shepherd University, Hospice of the Eastern Panhandle, the WVU Medicine Foundation, and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Joy has raised over $300,000 for local nonprofits over the past twenty years hosting these events. Joy volunteers her time for Shepherd University by being a member of WISH, the Friends of Popodicon, and the Scarborough Society Gala Committee. She is currently working with a team from Shepherd to renovate and re-open the Little House. Joy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown and serves on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority and the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Joy previously served as Regional Representative for West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and as a Regional Director of Business Retention and Expansion for the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Joy lives on a historic farm in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with her husband Eric. Eric and Joy have two grown children, Chandler of Morgantown, WV and Maclaine of Austin, TX. 

Tracy Zullo ’95

(bio coming soon)