Christine Murphy is new MCGS associate dean
Christine Murphy, an accomplished researcher in chemistry who has held senior administrative positions for graduate education at Harvard and Princeton universities, recently joined Boston College as associate dean for academic affairs in the Graduate School of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.
As associate dean, Murphy oversees the instructional, advising, research, and other academic-related aspects of MCGS, which offers doctor of philosophy, master of arts, and master of science degrees through 16 programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—ranging from biology, chemistry, and physics to English, classical studies and theology, as well as economics and mathematics. She also provides leadership in areas such as financial aid, lab and library facilities, and student life.
Even as she trains her focus on MCGS, noted Murphy, she keeps an eye on trends and issues in the wider landscape of graduate education, and above all, is mindful of its universal mission.
“To me, it’s critical that graduate students’ contributions to teaching and research are recognized and supported,” said Murphy. “Boston College is a great environment for that, and I am excited to play a role in helping the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences maintain its excellence in graduate education.”
“I am delighted that Christine Murphy has joined us as associate dean for academic affairs in the Morrissey College Graduate School,” said Morrissey College Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. “Her commitment to excellence in academic programs and to supporting graduate students as whole people are a great fit for our distinctive mission at BC. Christine brings to campus deep experience with graduate program leadership that will be critical to enhancing our commitment to outstanding graduate education. I am very much looking forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
“A Boston College education is a mission-driven one. You are taught to find value in thinking how your work affects the greater good and the wider world. This is true for both the graduate and undergraduate experience: We want BC students to see the bigger picture in what they’re doing because research helps drive positive change. ”
As a first-generation student with children, Murphy developed a passion for creating graduate learning environments where all students are able to thrive. After serving as assistant academic dean for STEM fields at Arcadia University College of Global Studies, Murphy joined the Princeton Graduate School in 2013 as assistant dean for academic affairs, becoming associate dean in 2020. During the past year, she was director of special projects for the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Murphy said she sees many important similarities between BC and Princeton. “BC, like Princeton, is well known for its stature as a liberal arts university. Also, BC, like Princeton, is an R1 institution—the highest Carnegie classification for research activity. So it’s vital that we showcase BC’s strengths across the spectrum of teaching and research, and the Morrissey College stands as a prime example.”
With her Catholic upbringing—her first paying job was working in a church rectory—Murphy finds the Jesuit, Catholic mission of BC and MCGS resonates with her.
“A Boston College education is a mission-driven one,” she said. “You are taught to find value in thinking how your work affects the greater good and the wider world. This is true for both the graduate and undergraduate experience: We want BC students to see the bigger picture in what they’re doing because research helps drive positive change.”
Financial support for students continues to be among the major areas of focus for MCGS, which seeks to offer benefits and stipends at a level similar to peer institutions, along with policies on health and wellness, sick/vacation time, and parental leave, among others, according to Murphy.
“We appreciate, and want to reciprocate, the investment and commitment these students have made to BC,” she said. “Graduate students use the tuition remission and stipend they receive from BC to support themselves, and in some cases their families. We want very much to enable them to live locally during their time at Morrissey College. BC values in-person learning and scholarship since it helps students complete their degrees in a timely fashion and also builds fellowship and connection for our students.”
In addition, said Murphy, MCGS is committed to providing “more holistic support” of its students in ways that consider their academic, financial, and social needs and prepares them to use their degrees in a wide variety of careers.
“Academic advising is an important component of graduate education. It’s also essential that students have access to mentors both inside and outside the academy who can support them as they think about their next steps after grad school and envision a career path. We also need to provide graduate students with resources that support them as learners, teachers, and scholars who are often balancing classroom learning and teaching with independent research.
“The graduate student experience is a little different than that of undergraduates, but they want to feel a connection to the wider campus community—to know how to find resources but also fellowship. We’re fortunate in that BC has Murray House and MCGS to lend support and enrichment to graduate student life.”
Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with honors from Ursinus College. She did her doctoral work in chemistry with Professors Thomas J. Meyer and Holden Thorp at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she was a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellow and a Frank Porter Graham Honors Society member. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biochemistry at Duke University. She is a highly regarded speaker in higher education and a member of several prominent national organizations.