Morgan Thornburg joined Liaison in January as an Implementation Consultant, partnering with colleges and universities to lead full-cycle implementations of Liaison’s Outcomes CRM from discovery through go-live. With five years of experience in higher education admissions operations, she understands enrollment systems from the inside out and brings a practical, user-centered approach to every project.

In the days leading up to the 2026 Boston Marathon, she answered a few questions about her career, new role at Liaison, and passion for running.

Q: What brought you to Liaison?

MT: I was working on the client side at the California State University for five years and learned how to operate Liaison’s WebAdMIT admissions management platform really well. When I attended the experience: LIAISON conference in Anaheim, I thought, “This is the greatest vibe ever, I want to seek out a job opportunity there.” The people at Liaison were just the best!

Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role as an Implementation Consultant?

MT: I’m looking forward to learning more about Outcomes and helping clients take full advantage of everything it can do. I love working with people and I’ve worked in higher ed, so I understand our clients’ pain points. Collaborating with a team that seems to really work well together, and in such a great environment, is something I’m really excited about. This is my first true remote position, so I’m very grateful for that flexibility!

mo_race

Q: What made you get into running?

MT: I’ve run forever, really. My parents ran and worked out all through my childhood, so I thought all adults did that. One time, I remember my mom "tried" to use it as a punishment—and it was for my sisters, who hated every step. But not me, I caught the running bug then and there!

I eventually joined my middle school cross country team and went on to run cross country and track at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA (now known as Cal Poly Humboldt). The San Francisco Distance Carnival, a night race around my birthday, was my favorite race in college. As soon as I graduated, I started running marathons.

Q: When was your first race? Most recent race?

MT: Technically, my first race was in sixth grade after only one week of running. My first marathon was the 2017 California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento. I had a great experience and qualified for the Boston Marathon on my first attempt, which I ran in 2019. Unfortunately, I got a severe foot injury in week 17 of my 20-week build, so I definitely didn't get to run the race how I wanted to. I spent the following 5 years battling plantar fasciitis, but I am finally pain free and actively training for marathons, including Berlin in September, NYC in November, and Boston in April of 2027!

Q: Tell us more about this year’s upcoming races.

MT: I am going to be running Berlin and the New York City Marathon. I managed to get a charity bib for New York, so I will be fundraising for Project GO, which supports NYC public school students. I'm REALLY excited that I get to run such a famous, high-energy race while helping to raise money for youth in the community. Plus, I might even get to meet some of my colleagues!

Q: How is preparation for the 2027 Boston Marathon going?

MT: I think my training over the past year has been steady, and I’m hitting some great strides. I’m in a running club that I love, so I get to train with people who have become some of my closest friends. We hold one another accountable, but most of them are ultra runners so that gets dangerous. I just completed my first 100-miler race in January in just under 21 hours, and I have a few 50ks coming up this spring. But I'm already really looking forward to going back to road marathons this fall.

Q: What is your personal best running time?

MT: Personal record time: two hours, 54 minutes.

Morgan’s Rapid Fire Running Tips

  • Favorite running shoes: I only wear Altras!
  • Go-to gel brand: Never Second
  • Headphones or no headphones: Generally no headphones. You can’t run in the big races with them anyways.
  • Favorite watch: Garmin
  • Go-to short race: 5k
  • How to stay hydrated while running: I don’t like to carry anything so I usually rely on water on the course or a water bottle on my belt if needed.