Fall 2007 - Northwestern College

Residencelife
Northwestern Classic
Farewell to the Murphys
lead, and at the completion of the college’s reaccreditation
study in 2005–06, evaluators praised nine specific strengths,
including “a shared commitment to the college’s mission and
an extraordinary ability to articulate the mission on the part of
all constituencies.”
Murphy supported academic freedom, enabling teachers
and students to discuss complex, even divisive issues—like
stem cell research, Muslim-Christian relations, stewardship of
the environment, and human sexuality.
“Fear of losing students and donors can make Christian
colleges wary of controversial topics,” says Dr. Doug Carlson,
professor of history. “But Bruce allowed and encouraged such
discussions as genuine expressions of the Reformed confidence
in a sovereign God and our injunction to reclaim all of
creation for God’s glory.”
Murphy’s Law II:
Lead by serving
Midway through the fall
semester in 2003, Murphy
made the difficult decision to
accept the resignation of
Northwestern’s former vice
president for academic affairs.
The leadership team he
has built since then is one part
of his legacy, and those leaders
will oversee the rest in the
years ahead. Murphy hired
four of six members on the
Administrative Council and
has sought to empower each
to share in institutional decision-making—even
as they
formulate, own and implement
strategies within their
respective areas.
Doug Beukelman, vice
president for financial affairs,
says, “Bruce surrounds himself with people of different skills,
backgrounds and personalities. Then he allows them to manage
independently while still blending them into a cohesive
team. He maintained a firm hand on Northwestern’s rudder,
but his grasp was not white-knuckled.”
“Bruce doesn’t have a large ego and doesn’t need the
credit,” says Barb Dewald, associate dean of spiritual formation.
“He listens and watches for where he might best serve or
give insight.”
“The best leaders are those who lead from who they are,”
says Drew Vogel, chair of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees,
adding that the Murphys wear their heart—for God’s kingdom,
for Northwestern, and for individual students, employees
and friends of the college—on their sleeves.
Murphy’s Law III:
Love students
Asked to reflect on the
Murphys’ tenure, current and
former students praise Bruce
and Di as wise, humble,
warm and fun-loving. Emily
Hoekema ’07 calls Murphy
“my next-door-neighbor
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“He maintained a firm
hand on Northwestern’s
rudder, but his grasp was
not white-knuckled.”
president” and adds that few of her friends at other colleges
knew their presidents as well as she knew hers.
Known as authentic and approachable, Murphy says the deep friendships he and Di formed with some alumni and supporters
of Northwestern have been more significant to him than the six- and seven-figure gifts facilitated by those relationships.
Students tell stories of Di sharing her umbrella and giving
them rides to student-teaching assignments. They were
invited to Bruce’s office, where he comforted their freshman
homesickness and listened to their upperclassman ideas for
ways to improve students’ Northwestern experience.
While the Murphys didn’t repeat their 1970s “Prexy
experiment” of living with students full time, they invited
many to their home for meals and overnight stays. They ate
with them in the caf’, performed in student acts during
Homecoming and the Ethnic Fair, and even spent cozy
evenings on dorm couches watching movies.
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14 ▲ Fall 2007