Morgan Papay

About Morgan Papay

Morgan Papay was born in Winfield, Illinois, and grew up in the surrounding suburbs. She attended a private Catholic school, where she thrived in a structured academic environment that focused on community involvement. A strong balance between education, extracurricular activities, and service marked Morgan’s upbringing in Illinois.

Active in her local church from an early age, Morgan participated regularly in both services and youth group activities. Her involvement in the community church fostered a sense of leadership, personal accountability, and a commitment to service. These experiences have contributed to her values-driven approach to work and life.

During high school, Morgan volunteered each summer at Marian Joy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois, which is dedicated to delivering physical rehabilitative medicine. As a volunteer, she supported patients and staff, gaining early experience in professional environments and developing skills in communication, empathy, and time management. She was also actively involved at Wheaton Bible Church and participated in youth group activities.

At the same time, she worked as a swim instructor, providing swimming lessons to children and adults. These early jobs helped her build a strong foundation in responsibility, leadership, and multitasking.

Morgan also had a consistent presence in the performing arts. She participated in school and local theater productions, including Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, and Toy Story. Theater provided her with skills in teamwork, public speaking, and adaptability—abilities she has applied in various professional settings.

Athletics played a major role in her formative years. She trained in competitive gymnastics for a decade, regularly traveling to competitions in Wisconsin and St. Louis. The sport required significant commitment, physical discipline, mental focus, and attention to detail. Morgan placed several times in the top three for gymnastics competitions on the bars, indicative of her ability to combine strength, flexibility, balance, and precise body control as well as to perform under pressure.

In addition to gymnastics, Morgan was also involved in dance and cheerleading. Dance was a way for Morgan to express herself creatively, remain physically active, connect with others, and experience various music genres. She competed with her team as a cheerleader. Both dance and cheerleading helped to build her confidence further, stay disciplined through practice, and develop her performance skills and ability to work in fast-paced, team-oriented environments.

Physical fitness remains a consistent part of Morgan’s life. She enjoys running and working out in her free time, maintaining the active lifestyle she developed through years of athletic training.

After high school, Morgan Papay attended Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a degree in Fashion Merchandising. For 135 years, Columbia has provided a hands-on, practice-based creative education that prepares graduates for their careers.

Morgan’s studies focused on both the creative and operational sides of the fashion business, including retail strategy, trend analysis, and product development. She also learned how to spot trends and analyze consumers to bring products to market at the right time effectively and gained experience in pricing, inventory, and supply chain.

While at Columbia, she participated in hands-on projects and internships that prepared her for a successful and rewarding career in the industry.