J. Dennis Murray to Speak at Commencement

MANSFIELD, PA— J. Dennis “Denny” Murray, professor emeritus of Psychology, will be the speaker at Mansfield J. Dennis MurrayUniversity’s 152nd Commencement on Saturday, December 17 at 11 a.m. in Decker Gymnasium.

“Dr. Murray has touched the lives of countless students, as well as faculty and staff, at our University,” MU President Fran Hendricks said in making the announcement. “Denny also served the greater community and continues to do do, having an impact on people’s lives. We look forward to hearing his advice and charge to our newest graduates and are honored to have Dr. Murray speak at our Commencement.”

Murray retired in 2015 after serving on the Mansfield faculty for 37 years. His teaching included courses in counseling, leadership studies, rural community psychology, prevention of mental illness, death and dying studies and student professional development. Murray placed and supervised students on internships in over 200 schools and community organizations.

He was chair of the Department of Psychology for 10 years and interim provost, then associate provost, for the 2000-2001 academic year.

Murray served and continues to serve in numerous leadership roles professionally and in the community. He has been president of the National Association for Rural Mental Health, vice chair of the Board of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and chair of the Academic Division of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.  For over 30 years Murray has been an elected director of health care organizations serving our region.  He’s been chair of the Board of the Laurel Health System and is currently on the boards of the Laurel Health Foundation and the newly formed UPMC Susquehanna health system and its affiliates.

Murray earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester. Before coming to Mansfield, he taught at the University of North Dakota for four years and, with his students, consulted on two Native American reservations.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. His scholarly work has included research on mental health needs and services in rural communities and he edited three books and published and presented extensively in that area.  Murray has also studied and speaks on topics of great personal interest: peer support and counseling; community, organizational, and ethical leadership; conflict resolution; and death and dying.