Deans, faculty, students and others clapped their hands in tune with the song "Oh Happy Day" as they celebrated the official inauguration of President Brian Murphy at the Flint Center on Wednesday. Attendants of the ceremony were greeted with music from the De Anza Wind Ensemble when they first entered.
"On behalf of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees and by virtue of my ability and authority as chancellor I entrust you, Dr. Murphy, the leadership of De Anza College," said former president, Chancellor Martha Kanter.
Trustee Edward A. Hay gave the De Anza College presidential insignia to Murphy after Kanter finished her investiture speech.
"How did that feel, Brian?" joked Robert Griffin, vice president of instruction. "It gets heavier."
Fourteen speakers spoke before Murphy, welcoming him to the school. The keynote speaker, Thomas Ehrlich, is a senior scholar at The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching at Stanford University. Ehrlich graduated from Harvard and is the author or editor of 10 books. "Brian says what he means and means what he says," Ehrlich said in his keynote address. Other speakers confirmed that Murphy follows through with his ideals and does what he preaches. California State Senator John Vasconcellos introduced Murphy. "Out of the thousands of human beings that I met in my 38 years of public service, Brian Murphy is the most all-around talented and we are fortunate to have him here," he said. "I am pleased and proud to introduce now my friend, your president, my president, Brian Murphy."
Murphy is the third president of De Anza, proceeded by A. Robert DeHart and Martha Kanter.
Murphy’s speech was titled "Educating the Civic Person."
"For a brief moment we’re here together and it reminds us that De Anza is a community college … both in serving a community and in being a community," Murphy said. "At a personal level this ceremony also brings together elements of my own community, a community of my identity if you will. This is a rare chance to have in one place those parts of my extended family who frame who I am."
Murphy’s mother, wife, two sons, brother, sister-in-law and other relatives were present at his inauguration. After mentioning their names, Murphy took a moment to thank another person very special to him. "There is a sharp awareness that there is one guy missing who’s sheer pleasure in this moment would only be exceeded by my mother’s," he said. "That’s my father, Bob Murphy … I miss him today." Kanter later said that Murphy did not have to worry because his father was at his inauguration that day.
Inauguration attendees celebrated and visisted at a hosted, catered reception in the Campus Center following the event. "I feel slightly overwhelmed, but it’s been a moment of great reverie," said Susan Hoffman, Murphy’s wife. She said that Murphy has worked all his life for the values that he talked about that afternoon. Students should live actively, not passively, and be educated enough to join in major discussions such as a discussion about a country at war, Murphy said.
"I thought it was one of the most moving inaugurations I’ve ever heard," said Murphy’s younger brother, Matt Murphy. "The whole family is very proud of him."
Proud might be one of the feelings that all of Murphy’s family members had in common.
"I am so proud," said Ginger McNally, Murphy’s sister-in-law. "He will be a fantastic leader here."
Not only did Murphy’s family members enjoy the inauguration and its festivities, but students did as well.
"I think it’s pretty cool," said student Clement Cherlim. "I think he seems like a good guy."
Miki Malgon is a student who did not see the entire inauguration, but said the part she saw instilled in her a feeling of honor. On top of that, she liked the music at the ceremony.
"The biggest challenge has been by far the enrollment," Murphy said in an interview with La Voz weeks before the inauguration. "The decline in enrollment is really very scary."
Murphy has thirty years of experience in higher education. Prior to coming to De Anza, he was the executive director of the San Francisco State University Urban Institute. Murphy and his family have lived in San Francisco for more than 25 years.
He has two sons. One is 19 years old and studying at Royal National Theatre in London. His other son is 14 years old and just starting high school.
Before his inauguration, Murphy was becoming acquainted with students by going to classes or pointing out directions for students who don’t know where they are going on campus. Staying in contact with students is hard because of his busy schedule, Murphy said. Murphy stressed the importance of friendship for students in his interview with La Voz. "I don’t just mean social friendships, but friendships where people work together … and help one another during exams," he said.
If you are intrigued by Murphy or just want to get to know him better, La Voz has discovered his favorite hangouts on campus where students might see him. Murphy enjoys sitting at the picnic tables outside of the Hinson Center and taking walks at the football field.
