brian m. murphy, ph.d.

dean, college of liberal and applied arts

“the quality of an institution is not measured by the students it takes in, but by the students it graduates.”

what drew you to the higher education world?

higher education is a place where every social and cultural development finds expression. it is the crossroads where all knowledge intersects, both ancient and current. above all, higher education gives people hope for their futures. there is no other occupation that provides this combination of personal enrichment and social contribution. higher education is about self-improvement; it is not a mere career.

what do you enjoy most about your role at sfa?

a dean is a college’s academic leader who collaborates with faculty to develop a vision and ensures its implementation. the role depends upon the successful blending of creativity, innovation and motivation to achieve progressively higher standards of academic excellence. it is a job that, if done well, makes a difference. 

what do you hope students gain from sfa?

for students, a college education should be about challenging themselves to acquire the skills and knowledge to succeed across a lifetime. it is about building integrity, self-respect and a sense of responsibility. students should be proud of what they have accomplished upon graduation, but only if they have no regrets about the effort they put in to achieve their degree.

what are you passionate about outside of your role at sfa?

passion should be directed toward things that supply life with meaning. since life needs an anchor, my wife and family are my primary passion outside my role at sfa. but, in a wider sense, passion should infuse everything you do because it is the only way daily life becomes meaningful. things become trivial only when they are treated that way. a successful life is where passion exists in every breath.

education and experience