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| Ralph Murphy II, Ed.D. |
Currently, Dr. Murphy is the Dean of Student Development and Success at Blue Mountain Community College, where he leads three departments; Health and Wellness Resource Center, Student Success Center, and Trio Student Support Services.
He earned his B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Toledo, a Masters of Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University, and Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) from the Roueche Graduate Center at National American University.
In a Q&Awith Colors of Influence, he shares strategic imperatives at Blue Mountain Community College related to supporting all students in achieving their academic and career goals.
What is your primary charge as Dean of Student Development and Success at Blue Mountain Community College?
I serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet leading the fiscal operations, strategic planning, and measurement outcomes for the Student Success Center, Trio Student Support Services, and the Health and Wellness Resource Center. The Student Success Center is a dedicated space on campus for students to study with tutors, receive educational, career, and life skills advising, in addition to providing student employment opportunities. Trio Student Support Services is a federally funded program designed to provide a diverse demographic of low-income first generation students with the resources needed to achieve post-secondary credential attainment. The Health and Wellness Resource Center provides counseling for students, holistic health programs, and disability assessments required for student accommodations.
What are the top opportunities in serving students in Pendleton, Oregon?
From my purview, it’s a great time to be a student at Blue Mountain Community College. For it to be a community college, the student life aspect is growing immensely. Students are participating in camping and hiking excursions, the athletic programs are growing, a new workforce training center, and new equipment and building for agriculture and precision irrigation training for careers. Furthermore, students participating in Trio Student Support Services are attending college tours to the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon University and Washington State University. At the same time, holistic health is a priority for the college to increase student success; Wellness Wednesdays and Brain Break activities help students lower anxiety, depression, and educates students on other health issues.
What do you find most edifying about your role? What’s most challenging?
The student life at BMCC is awesome. I participate in Student Government and Student Ambassador events. I share college experiences and career pathway stories with students daily. I have participated in athletic events, reviewed student essays, and now I’m looking forward to signing-up for the dunk tank for student events next year.
At the same time, I work in an environment where the culture champions and supports individual creativity and accomplishments- continuously; this transitions positivity throughout the organization. It is truly gratifying to lead a team where everyone is steadfast on one goal; providing students with the knowledge needed to be successful as a college student and a professional simultaneously.
The most challenging aspect of my role is finding time in the day to do it all. There are some meetings I can’t attend, some student events I can’t support, and unfortunately some committees I am unable to participate in. As with any leadership role, finding a good time balance is always the most challenging.
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| "Focus on what you do best and do it to the best of your ability until it becomes an attribute others recognize and champion your strength." |
How does your cultural background impact the way that you lead?
To better understand how my cultural background experience has shaped me as a leader you’d have to be familiar with a chameleon and an owl. I have the ability to adapt to the climate and surroundings of any environment, in addition to being an intentional observer and listener. Over time, I learned how to absorb different attributes of individuals I admired to shape my perspective of leadership.
These skills were learned while growing up the oldest of four men raised by an extraordinary mother in East Cleveland, Ohio. This community is predominantly African American. From elementary to high school I was fortunate to have a village of positive African American role models; principals, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, athletic coaches, and community supporters.
While I was fortunate to be as intelligent as my dad and possess an unwavering faith to believe in accomplishing the unforeseen from my mom I gained a great deal from the village surrounding me. I learned mental toughness and grit from my high school football coach; Bruce Coffey Jr. I learned how to play by the rules of the real world from my high school principal; Ms. Beverly Bright-Lloyd. In addition, I learned presentation and image as an African-American professional is second to none from my elementary principal; Clayton Burroughs. And probably the most important, I learned accountable love from my life coach; Kevin Coburn.
At this time, I understand wholeheartedly what it means to be one of the few African-American males to reach this level of leadership, nationally, for this reason alone my cultural background impacts the way I lead on a daily basis. I have compiled all of the aforementioned characteristics and attributes to be one of the best higher education administrators in the country. The life lessons I have experienced culturally guides my day-to-day interactions with staff, students, and faculty and community liaisons.
If someone were asked about my leadership style they might say, “Dr. Murphy keeps an open door policy, he always has a calm demeanor. He thinks outside the box and sees what some may overlook. He is a caring person that understands people and strides to create a peaceful environment."
These moments shape the way I lead and what I hold as virtues to success in the workplace, especially in higher education.
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| "It is truly gratifying to lead a team where everyone is steadfast on one goal; providing students with the knowledge needed to be successful." |
As a leader of color, what are the top three lessons you’ve learned from your many years of experience in education?
“Authentic vulnerability” is key to building trust and support as a leader. By being authentically vulnerable it has enabled me to successful motivating staff and building sustainable relationships with students. I am comfortable with sharing my flaws, mistakes, and trials as a leader and as a former student. In doing so, I have shared what I’ve learned from different experiences that has led to my success in education at all levels; college student, student advisor, faculty, and administrator.
“Appreciative Inquiry is the ultimate guide”. Focus on what you do best and do it to the best of your ability until it becomes an attribute others recognize and champion your strength. I have always been a quiet leader, I listened and observed and then listen and observe more. I would listen and observe to the point that when I did have a word to speak others respected my opinion as a notable reference and not be looked upon as excessive jargon, ulterior motives, or simply talking just to talk. My best asset as a leader has been thorough assessments and critical evaluations.
In this area, I am assertive strategically and intentionally utilizing attributes I have honed and mastered over the years. Undoubtedly so, I have much more to learn and more experiences to have in order to reach the pinnacle of my success as a higher education leader. However, following this principle has excelled my career and strengthened my reputation in any education environment, others appreciate my skills and recognize it in action.
“Who knows you”? The purpose of networking is to build relationships that last a lifetime. Relationships are imperative at every level of education. Being building your social capital immediately the first year in a post-secondary institution. Know that the relationships you build early should get stronger over time, these relationships are everything! Dr. Don Cameron, President Emeritus, Guilford Technical Community College might’ve given me the most important lesson in education I have learned to date as a leader and a lifelong learner. This lesson means a lot because it is extremely true at this juncture.
As far back as I can remember I was always told, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” well Dr. Cameron said, “there’s a third piece to that, it’s about who knows you. While you’re on your journey through life keep this in mind, when you email certain people, do they email you back? When you call them, do they call you back? This is vital to your development as a leader and for guidance along the way.
You have mentors and then you have connectors. The people that give you advice and guidance are your mentors. Those that share information and assist opening doors are connectors. It’s imperative to separate them both along the journey to success. What do you enjoy most about being in Eastern Oregon?
I have had some new experiences; attended my first college rodeo, and looking forward to the Pendleton Round- Up. I Iike supporting student athletic events. I have met some really great people in addition to enjoying the sun shine and clear blue skies.
The “Friday Markets” have been an awesome experience here. Recently, I participated in “The Young Voices” event motivating youth to graduate high school and strive to complete a credential at a post-secondary institution. I also participated in a video game night with over 150 youth in Pendleton, Oregon.
Overall, Eastern Oregon is a nice relaxing environment.