Levern McElveen’s Story: Turning Experience into Scholarship
When Levern McElveen returned to academia, he did so with purpose. After a long and distinguished career in the transit industry spanning frontline operations and leadership roles at the local, state, and federal levels, Levern recognized a critical gap in how transit safety policies are shaped. Too often, the voices of frontline transit workers are missing from the conversation. His doctoral research seeks to change that by centering their experiences and connecting policy decisions to operational realities.
Levern chose Morgan State University not only for its academic excellence, but for its legacy as a historically Black university committed to access, equity, and public service. Within Morgan, the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies stood out for its flexible, people-centered approach to adult education. CICS provided a framework that allowed Levern to integrate his professional expertise directly into his research, ensuring that his scholarship was both rigorous and deeply grounded in real-world experience.
Returning to school later in life came with challenges. Balancing doctoral research, professional responsibilities, and personal commitments required discipline, adaptability, and strong support. Throughout the process, CICS faculty and staff fostered a culture of accountability, encouragement, and respect for adult learners. Their understanding of the realities adult students face and their belief in the value of lived experience enabled Levern to remain professionally engaged while pursuing advanced scholarship.
Through CICS, Levern’s confidence grew, his goals sharpened, and his sense of purpose expanded. His research now integrates leadership, safety, and equity into a framework he actively applies in the field as both a scholar and practitioner. In doing so, his work directly supports Morgan’s mission of community impact and public service, translating academic research into practical solutions that improve safety, accountability, and quality of life within public transit systems.
Levern’s journey also reflects the broader recognition of CICS as a national leader in adult education. In 2025, CICS was honored with the Older Adult Model Program Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE), affirming its role as a transformative space where experience, purpose, and scholarship intersect.
His message to others considering a return to college is clear: experience is not a limitation, it is the foundation. Higher education needs the voices, insights, and persistence of adult learners who bring decades of knowledge into the classroom and beyond.
Ready to Turn Your Experience into Impact?
Levern’s story is one of many that demonstrate how CICS supports adult learners at every stage of life providing mentorship, flexibility, and a community that values lived experience as academic strength.
If you’re ready to transform your professional journey into meaningful scholarship, advance your career, or pursue a degree with purpose, the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies at Morgan State University is here to support you.
Apply today—and let your experience lead the way forward.