SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

ROCHESTER, N.Y.–Fast-paced. Intense. Challenging. Exciting. Team effort.

That’s how Lamar Murphy describes her days as University of Rochester President Joel Seligman’s chief of staff.

“I love what I do,” Murphy said. “It’s a privilege to work with such talented colleagues in support of a University mission that we all embrace.”

This summer, Murphy added another responsibility to her list of duties: general secretary of the University. She succeeds Paul Burgett, vice president and senior advisor to the president, who stepped down from the role of general secretary after 10 years to allow more time for emerging new interests and travel.

As general secretary, Murphy has key responsibilities for relations with the University’s Board of Trustees and for maintaining official board records.

Murphy joined the Office of the President at the University of Rochester in 2006.  Before that, she held leadership positions at The Ohio State University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. She also worked as a management consultant, both for a Chicago firm and independently. Murphy completed her doctorate in U.S. history at the University of Chicago and holds a bachelor’s degree from Tulane.

Murphy says she’s enthusiastic about her new role.

“I am honored by the confidence that the president and board have in me, and I look forward to serving the University in expanded ways,” she said. “It’s a very exciting time to be here. This really is a university on the move, and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

A 1972 graduate of Fort Dale Academy, Murphy is the daughter of Mrs. James W. Riley and the late Mr. Riley of Greenville. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Riley Sr. of Greenville and the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lamar Williamson of Pine Apple.