Only the third president in the history of De Anza College, Dr. Brian Murphy has set a national standard not only for educational excellence, but also for a comprehensive commitment to social justice. During his tenure, he’s promoted initiatives to recruit students from historically underserved populations coupled with aggressive retention efforts.
At the community college in Northern California with an enrollment of approximately 24,000, Murphy has provided leadership that has brought the diverse student population together in support of inclusion, respect and civic engagement, according to those who know him.
De Anza College promotes itself as “Tops in Transfer,” with a significant percentage of the student body successfully transferring to four-year institutions and going on to earn bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
None of the accomplishments achieved during Murphy’s presidency were the result of simply saying the words. Each development required deep thought, careful planning, consensus-building and follow-through. As he steps down from his presidential post, he leaves a legacy of inspiration, collaboration and community.
“The role of the president is to articulate his vision around civic and politic work,” says Murphy in an interview with Diverse. “But if you don’t deliver in the budgets and work collaboratively with the academic senate, budget committees and staff to try to put meat on the vision, then it’s mostly smoke.”
Thoughtful planning
“Access without the capacity for success is a bit hollow,” says Murphy. “It is sort of sad to me that affordability eclipses what is the genuine genius of the community college, which is the ability to engage the astonishing diversity of students who come to us.”
