Dr. Corinne M. Murphy serves as the Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (CEBS) at Western Kentucky University (WKU) (2018 to present). She is responsible for the vision, strategic direction, and college operations serving to support the university’s strategic plan. Dr. Murphy maintains a wide portfolio of college and university level operations including academic units, clinical auxiliaries, recruitment and retention initiatives, military support services, first year experience courses, degree completion initiatives, KY teacher certification, and community relations. Within CEBS, Dr. Murphy maintains responsibility for all operations including all fiduciary, academic, student support, program accreditation, and grant activities. Dr. Murphy works with academic department heads, program directors, faculty, and staff, as well as peers and colleagues across the University’s 5 academic colleges, to facilitate the creation and maintenance of robust educator certifications programs, behavioral and mental health programs, and other interdisciplinary programs accessible to first generation, diverse, rural, and economically disadvantaged student populations. She works with faculty and staff to determine CEBS’s fiscal and personnel priorities, making budget requests, allocating resources, and managing all personnel. During her tenure, CEBS achieved 10-point gain in first-year retention measures, increased enrollment of K-12 personnel in graduate education courses, instituted a degree-completion program in partnership with multiple divisions (Strategy, Operations, & Finance and Enrollment & Student Experiences), marked enrollment growth milestones, and established pipeline programs supporting enrollment of students from diverse backgrounds. Other outcomes include reversing the CEBS’s budget subvention status within the University’s Responsibility Center Management model (RCM) to revenue positive within the second cycle of Budget Actuals (FY20), establishing a comprehensive yield program for first year student enrollment, and working with Facilities to prepare WKU to be among the first institutions in the nation to institute the new ROTC physical fitness requirements.
Dr. Murphy is a Professor of Special Education with demonstrable excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Prior to her appointment as Dean, Dr. Murphy’s academic leadership included Vice Provost (Interim) of Academic Affairs, Acting Dean of the Honors College, Academic Affairs liaison to Student Affairs, and Department Chairperson of Special Education at West Chester University (WCU) of Pennsylvania. There, she served the university community in several leadership positions supporting shared governance and student success including the Chair of the WCU Curriculum and Academic Policies Council (CAPC), Special Assistant to the Provost, and Co-Chair of the Academic Theme Team of the University Strategic Plan. Dr. Murphy played pivotal roles in the revision of the university’s General Education program, establishment of a First Year Experience Program, and the application towards Community Engaged Campus Carnegie Designation. Dr. Murphy remains committed to scholarly pursuits through publications, presentations, and as a standing member on the Federal Grant Review Committee of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). In addition to this work and simultaneous to her university leadership roles, she served 6-years as the Executive Director (pro bono) for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center (SPARC).
Leveraging the culmination of her scholarly accomplishments and leadership responsibilities, Dr. Murphy pioneered the development of a new campus support structure for university students with autism regardless of academic major. The WCU Dub-C Autism Program (D-CAP) serves to support the social, independent, and professional skills of students with autism, increasing post-graduate employment and independent living opportunities. The development of this program required collaboration with Facilities, Admissions, Residence Life, and Student Affairs, academic deans, faculty, and staff, from across campus to accomplish a comprehensive needs assessment, structural framework, and implementation plan. This program is one example of her work developing sustainable systems in support of access, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Murphy earned her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and special education. She holds a master's and bachelor’s degrees in ABA, psychology, and speech and hearing science. Dr. Murphy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral level (BCBA-D) whose work focuses on academic and functional living skills of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
