Kim Downs (left) and Morgan Word (right) outside of Watson Clinic.
For Kim Downs ’95 and Morgan Word ’24, a shared Florida Southern connection became something more: a professional relationship built on mentorship, professional growth, and the value of opening doors for others.
Their paths first crossed through Delta Sigma Pi, the business fraternity both joined as Florida Southern students. Downs, a graduate of the School of Business, had returned to campus to speak with members about her career in health care and quality improvement. Word was among the students who connected with her that day.
At the time, Word was pursuing her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in health care management and was immediately drawn to Downs’ presentation. Already familiar with Watson Clinic’s reputation in the Lakeland community, Word saw the conversation as an opportunity to learn from someone established in the field she was preparing to enter.
“I knew there would be such a tremendous growth opportunity, and it would be a very beneficial first step in my career to really be connected with such a reputation like Watson Clinic,” Word said.
Downs was equally impressed by Word and the professionalism she and the other students demonstrated at the event. Soon afterward, Downs and her team created an internship role specifically for Word, and this connection provided Word with the opportunity to apply what she was learning at Florida Southern in a professional setting.
Word earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2024, and completed her MBA in 2026. Throughout this time, her internship with Downs’ team eventually developed into a full-time position, which she now holds as a Contracting and QI/VBS Associate for Watson Clinic.
What began as one alumna sharing her professional experience with students grew into a lasting connection. Downs offered the perspective she had gained throughout her career, while Word brought the curiosity and ambition of a young professional beginning her own.
For Downs, the relationship also reflects why she continues to feel connected to Florida Southern nearly three decades after graduation.
“Although I graduated from Florida Southern many years ago, I still feel very connected to the school and I have wonderful memories about my experiences there,” Downs said. “They were formative and really helped me develop professionally and personally throughout my life.”
For Word, that lasting connection has become a tangible part of her own professional journey. Her experience at Florida Southern provided the academic foundation and support that prepared her for her career, while the College’s alumni community helped connect her with someone who could offer insight beyond her undergraduate years.
“Florida Southern has really prepared us for success,” Word said. “I felt very supported by the professors and the career services. It really just goes to show the strength of the Florida Southern alumni community.”
For both alumnae, the connection demonstrates how relationships formed at Florida Southern can continue long after graduation, creating opportunities to learn from one another, give back and help the next generation of Mocs find their own path forward.
