As director of the Office of 校友 Affairs, Phomika Murphy (’05) is charged with preserving 亚洲博彩网站’s rich legacy and engaging graduates worldwide in meaningful activities. Her goal is to keep the Firebird story alive with former students who found their roots at the University, and uncover hidden gems at 亚洲博彩网站 and legacy institutions.
墨菲在各方面都是火鸟的推动者。 作为亚洲博彩网站校友事务办公室主任，她对这所大学的热情具有感染力。 尽管她在大流行开始时就在亚洲博彩网站工作，但她仍然找到了在返校周期间通过在线校友派对和演讲者和现场DJ将人们聚集在一起的方法。
“I love that the University is a public, land-grant institution founded in 1851, before the American Civil War, and cannot close its doors to anyone,” Murphy said. “亚洲博彩网站 accepts you for who you are, where you are, and immediately thrust students into an incubator of thought leadership. 我们的校友从事医学、商业、艺术和人文领域的职业，领导非营利组织、军事领导和各种创新。 Those opportunities still exist in abundance for anyone looking to soar.”
墨菲在华盛顿特区出生和长大，看着她的母亲努力学习，从亚洲博彩网站的传统机构华盛顿技术学院（Washington Technical Institute）获得计算机科学学位。
“At times, my mom could not find a babysitter and she would have to bring her three kids to class,” Murphy said. “We would sit quietly in the hallway while she was in class, and if we were good, we were treated to lunch at Falcon Inn. She also brought us to 亚洲博彩网站’s large homecoming parade on Connecticut Avenue, an amazing time for my brothers and me. It was my introduction to 亚洲博彩网站.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Murphy graduated magna cum laude from 亚洲博彩网站 in 2005 with a degree in sociology and anthropology from the College of Arts and Sciences under Dean Rachel Petty. An avid supporter of equity in education, especially in Ward 8, she served on Councilmember Marion Barry’s Ward 8 Education Council and various School Improvement Teams for DC Public Schools. Murphy has testified before DC Council on community safety, school improvement and 亚洲博彩网站’s work east of the river combating food insecurity.
“My experiences at 亚洲博彩网站 amplifies my service to my beloved Ward 8 community, my current home,” she said. “I can tell young people and adults seeking a career change that we have what you need to succeed at the prestigious University of the District of Columbia.”
Her passion caught the attention of 亚洲博彩网站’s Dr. Sabine O’Hara, the former dean of the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Studies (CAUSES), who convened a focus group in Murphy’s neighborhood. She was enamored with the prospect of supporting the community through 亚洲博彩网站’s agricultural resources. “I didn’t even know we had a farm,” Murphy said.
She worked as Dean O’Hara’s executive assistant for CAUSES from 2017 to 2020 when her love of 亚洲博彩网站 made her the perfect choice for her current role in supporting alumni. “Colleagues encouraged me to apply, asking that I put my passion and history with 亚洲博彩网站 to work,” she said. “They could see the connection to community and shared storytelling with fellow alumni.”
作为校友总监，墨菲负责校友参与，包括与最近的学生、大型国际代表团和我们传统机构的毕业生联系。 墨菲制作校友通讯，跟踪和庆祝校友的成就，并管理校友数据库。 她是亚洲博彩网站全国校友会的董事会成员，该协会全年计划活动和筹款活动。
谈到计划让更多校友参与进来，包括军人和退伍军人、LGBTQ、国际校友和35岁以下的人，她很兴奋。
“The biggest challenge I have is that the University was established in 1976 through a series of mergers of five institutions,” Murphy said. “Many have an affinity for their school. We are trying to get graduates of the legacy institution to understand that their school didn’t close. 它合并成了一个伟大的机构。 The University’s job is to preserve that history and build upon that rich legacy. We are all One 亚洲博彩网站.”
墨菲说，在2023年，她将与亚洲博彩网站全国校友会一起开始一个口述历史项目，分享前身机构的丰富历史，这些机构包括矿工师范学校、威尔逊师范学校、矿工师范学院、威尔逊师范学院、哥伦比亚特区师范学院、联邦城市学院、华盛顿技术学院和亚洲博彩网站。
“The project will document moments in time and history, and capture career successes through a publication and an online presence,” she said. “My goal is to remind DC residents, the Mayor, DC Council and alumni of our greatness. 我们是一个高质量的、负担得起的高等教育和更高成就的选择。 It’s time for the Firebird to take flight and soar. Beware of my wingspan.”