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Roper’s dedication to youth, education soars above others by Cindy Abole Public Relations Tuesday’s successful space shuttle launch marks more than America’s return to space, it represents an important commitment for mankind in the areas of science and discovery that reaches beyond earth's own horizon.   That same conviction of discovery and curiosity to learn is shared by MUSC’s Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) part-time youth coordinator Morris Roper, Ph.D. At age 75, Roper joined IOP’s youth clinic in January as an impact group educator/counselor working with teens diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder and other conditions.   Dr. Morris Roper A lifelong educator and scientist, Roper gained his technical experience working with early guided-missile systems for the U.S. military and later with NASA’s Project Apollo program in the 1960s. Roper was responsible for the stabilization and control systems testing early designs of the Apollo Command Module. He was also involved in evaluating the spacecraft’s deep space communications systems.   “It was an exciting time,” said Roper, a Charleston native. “At that time, NASA demanded a 95 percent reliability rating for quality assurance in everything produced or operated for spaceflight; That’s near-perfection to most of us. There were no computers to help us design, develop or test our efforts. Most of our work was done using statistics, ingenuity and sometimes a little luck.”   Roper worked as an engineer with the quality assurance and reliability design group of North American Aviation Space and Information Systems Division until 1964 where he decided to return to teaching full-time at Pasadena City College. By 1979, he completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees in quantitative inquiry and statistics from Claremont Graduate University in 1979. He was professor of mathematics and computer sciences at Pasadena City College teaching an estimated 10,000-plus students during his 30-year tenure.   “Teaching has always been a joy for me,” Roper said. “It’s so rewarding to see a student develop, mature and respond to the material they learn. I’m always impressed to see a student’s thirst  for knowledge grow and develop to become self-motivated.”   A widower in 1999, Roper returned to the Lowcountry area resettling among family and friends. He joined the staff at Southern Wesleyan University teaching science and management in the adult and graduate studies programs, where he currently teaches. In addition, he lectured and taught computer science locally at The Citadel and Charleston Southern University.   Although science and technology have certainly evolved since man first walked on the moon, man’s passion for learning and discovery remains hardy. For Roper, working with students of different ages and needs continues to be an inspiration for this scientist and lover of learning. Just as the shuttle Discovery’s crew are back to performing research and other science during their 12-day historic mission, Roper is happy to be in his own element. With his lifetime of experiences and successes, he hopes he can continue to inspire others to reach beyond their own goals towards personal success. Friday, July 29, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.