Name: Beth Murphy ’89
Hometown: Piedmont, South Carolina
Education: B.A. in history, College of Charleston, 1989
Job title: Assistant to the Provost for Budget and Personnel
How long have you worked at the College? 28 years permanent staff employee, two years temporary employee, two years student employee
What are your job responsibilities? Coordinating faculty processes such as tenure, promotion and sabbatical. Answering process questions about employment and budgets. Assisting the provost with division budget matters and providing the provost with a historical perspective on processes.
What do you like most about your job? Every day is different. I enjoy researching issues and presenting possible solutions that fall within state and College guidelines. I also enjoy the fact that each faculty and staff member is different and brings a different viewpoint to the table. I learn so much from others.
What question do you get asked most in your job, and what’s your typical answer? Most questions relate to faculty employment and policies as well as payroll issues.
What’s your favorite location on campus and why? The Cistern. As a student I lived in Craig Hall facing the Cistern, and each semester I would look out the window and tell myself, “Someday I’m going to cross that stage.” For a young woman from a very small town, this was an enormous accomplishment, and each time I look at the Cistern I feel at home.
What are your hobbies? Fast-paced walking, reading history books and anything involving cats and coffee.
What personal and/or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? Personally, I am most proud of the relationship I have with my grown daughters – having the opportunity to teach them about life and the value of learning from others who come from a variety of backgrounds. Professionally, the fact that I have served the College through six provosts and built great working relationships with many faculty and administrators.
Name a creative work (book, movie, performance, etc.) you enjoyed recently and why? I recently read a history of Hobcaw Barony and then visited for a tour. I enjoy Dottie Benton Frank books and anything with Lowcountry history.
What was your favorite TV show growing up? StarTrek (now: Live PD).
What’s next on your bucket list? Planning and taking a trip to Europe with my daughters in the next five years.
What is something your campus colleagues would be surprised to know about you? I have fostered over 40 kittens. Fostering is a great way for anyone to determine if they are ready to adopt. I enjoy working with somewhat wild kittens and being extremely patient while they learn to trust humans. It’s fun to prepare them to live permanently in someone else’s home.
What was your first job? Cashier at Burger King in Powdersville, South Carolina.
What’s your favorite Lowcountry restaurant? R.B.’s on Shem Creek – for the atmosphere.
Describe your perfect day: Having family visit and spending the day in a chair on the beach at the Isle of Palms.
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