Bevan H. Morris

Bevan H. Morris, a distinguished Australian-born American academic and politician, passed away on February 26, 2026, at the age of 76 in Fairfield, Iowa. His life was marked by a profound dedication to education, consciousness-based development, and global peace initiatives. Morris leaves behind a legacy of leadership and advocacy that spanned several decades and touched countless lives across the world.

Born on March 3, 1949, in Adelaide, South Australia, Morris embarked on an intellectual journey that led him to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in psychology and philosophy. His academic pursuits continued with a master's degree and a Ph.D. in the Science of Creative Intelligence from Maharishi European Research University (MERU) in Vlodrop, Netherlands, and a Doctorate of World Peace from MERU in Switzerland.

Morris's path took a significant turn in December 1967 when he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Sydney, Australia, and was instructed in Transcendental Meditation. This encounter profoundly shaped his life's work, leading him to Rishikesh, India, a year later to undertake the Transcendental Meditation Teacher Training Course.

His leadership within the Transcendental Meditation movement began to flourish in the mid-1970s, serving as the international coordinator for MERU from 1975 to 1979. In September 1980, Morris was appointed President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Maharishi International University, which was later renamed Maharishi University of Management (MUM) in 1995. He held this pivotal role for 36 years, overseeing significant expansion of the university campus and the accreditation of its programs through the Ph.D. level.

Beyond academia, Morris ventured into the political arena as a co-founder and national chairman of the U.S. Natural Law Party. He took a leave of absence from MUM in 1992 to manage John Hagelin's first presidential campaign, demonstrating his commitment to integrating consciousness-based principles into public policy.

Throughout his career, Morris was a tireless advocate for Consciousness-Based Education. He became the International President for Maharishi International Universities and President Emeritus of Maharishi International University in 2009, continuing to guide a global network of institutions. In March 2012, he embarked on a tour of 14 African countries to promote these educational philosophies.

From 2005, Morris also served as the Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace, an organization founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dedicated to establishing global peace through Vedic technologies of consciousness. He retired as president of Maharishi University of Management in 2016, leaving behind a profound impact on the institution and the broader movement.

Bevan H. Morris will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to advancing education, fostering peace, and promoting a deeper understanding of consciousness. His contributions as an academic, politician, and spiritual leader have left an indelible mark on the world.