Dr. Bruce T. Murphy was unanimously named the fifth president of Nicholls State University by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
“We’ve got the colonels for the Colonels (the school mascot),” said UL System board member Jimmie “Beau” Martin who made the motion to appoint Murphy. Both president-elect Murphy and his wife, Jeanne Picariello Murphy, are retired from the U.S. Army. They earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and colonel, respectively.
During his interview with the board, Murphy detailed his goals for the university including establishing relationships, conducting a thorough academic program review, and growing enrollment and the university’s mission of serving the region and beyond.
UL System President Sandra Woodley praised Murphy’s extensive experience in leadership roles. “He has a unique blend of higher education leadership and military experience,” she said.
Prior to his current position at Air University, Murphy served as the founding dean of the School of Business at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. He was also founding director of the graduate program in organizational leadership and chair of the Walker School of Business at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. He taught military science at Vanderbilt University and leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Altogether, he spent 21 years in military service.
“I have over 30 years of service in a uniform and a suit. That has taught me duty, commitment, and honor,” Murphy said. “I will always give my best to any organization I’m affiliated with and advance and protect it.”