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BRENNA HOUCK
PROFile
Alexander B. Murphy
Professor of Geography and James F. and Shirley K. Rippey
Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences
The first few lectures in a course taught by
Alexander Murphy can sometimes be a little intimidating
for students. The renowned University of
Oregon political geographer says that students
often come into his classroom the first day believing
they are there to memorize place names, but
soon he manages to “change their views.” With his
aid and expertise, students discover that the political
map is something more than just borders, capitals,
and colored spaces; the subject encompasses
information on a vast swath of human activity,
from population density to religious affiliation.
This new understanding gives students tools to
embark on a journey of discovery, asking questions
about their world—and no longer taking
maps for granted.
One example Murphy likes to use is Timbuktu,
a place that is synonymous with an isolated, faraway
destination. This West African city is an
important case study in how location can influence
economies and politics through history.
While Timbuktu seems distant to us today, Murphy
says, in the 12th century it was an important caravan
trade center on the edge of the Sahara. Then,
as shipping became more prominent, coastal cities
emerged as the new trade powers, and Timbuktu
slid “from the center of activity to the periphery.”
Today, the city is making headlines, as the once
stable nation of Mali has fallen into the throes of
civil war. Timbuktu’s changing geographic significance
illustrates “a world that is different from one
year to the next.”
Having visited more than 100 countries, Murphy
is often jetting to the farthest reaches of the
globe. But whether he’s traveling to Northern India
or crossing the Peruvian-Chilean border, Murphy
is always on the lookout for a tale or insight from
his adventures to bring into his discussions and
enliven his courses. On one recent 10-day expedition,
he traveled to Tabriz, Iran, and addressed the
Fifth International Congress of Islamic World Geographers.
During the visit, Murphy sat down with a
candidate for the post-Ahmadinejad presidency,
an individual who might someday stand at the
helm of one of the most strategically important
countries on the planet. With the world’s geopolitics
ceaselessly churning, the subject remains ever
fresh. “I look forward to the next time I get to teach
political geography,” Murphy says.
Name: Alexander B. Murphy
Education: BA ’77, Yale University; ’77–78, Graduate
Program, Universität des Saarlandes; JD
’81, Columbia University; PhD ’87, University of
Chicago.
Teaching Experience: Joined the UO faculty
1987. James F. and Shirley K. Rippey Chair in
Liberal Arts and Sciences ’98–present.
Awards: Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement
Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2012; David M.
and Nancy L. Petrone Scholar Award, 1996–98;
James F. and Shirley K. Rippey Fund Award for
Teaching Innovation, 1995– 96; and many more
university, national, and international accolades.
Off-Campus: Murphy enjoys hiking and, occasionally,
downhill skiing with his graduate students at
Willamette Pass.
Last Word: “I want my students to begin to see
some connections and interactions that will help
them to make sense of the world and their lives.”
—Brenna Houck
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 27