Teresa Murphy, currently senior associate dean for academic affairs in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as deputy provost for academic affairs beginning Jan. 1, 2016.
Dr. Murphy will serve as chief deputy to incoming interim Provost Forrest Maltzman. She will oversee a wide portfolio of responsibilities, including the university’s upcoming reaccreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and oversight of the university’s academic space.
“Over the years, Terry has emphasized collaboration and transparency in her service to the college,” Dr. Maltzman said. “GW is better as a result, and I look forward to partnering with her during this critical transitional period.”
Dr. Murphy also is a professor of American Studies. She joined the GW faculty in 1992. As senior associate dean, Dr. Murphy has led the day-to-day operations and long-term academic and financial planning of the Columbian College, the liberal arts college of GW, which has approximately 8,000 students and 494 full-time faculty.
Dr. Murphy has also helped lead the academic integration of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design into the Columbian College and served on the successful search committee for the Corcoran’s inaugural director. She also participated in the development of the university’s strategic plan, co-chaired and co-authored the university’s successful Middle States accreditation progress report and chaired the development and implementation of CCAS general education curriculum reform.
Ben Vinson III, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, called Dr. Murphy "an incredibly cherished colleague.”
“She has been an indispensable player in helping transition the new Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, as well as a trusted ally in helping shepherd forth major college initiatives,” Dr. Vinson said. “Her steady hand, combined with her fine rapport among our faculty and staff, has greatly benefitted Columbian College. I wish her well in her new role, and given her outstanding track record at the college, I anticipate fantastic success for her at the university level."
A noted scholar on the relationship between gender and culture in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Dr. Murphy previously served as chair of the American Studies Department at George Washington. In recognition of her extensive contributions to the university, Dr. Murphy received the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize for University Service.
“Over the past few decades, the university has increased its research profile and its academic standing,” Dr. Murphy said. “I look forward to working with each of our schools, and with our central administration, to keep that momentum going.”