Evelyn Murphy
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Murphy was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office. She is now the president of The WAGE Project, a United States
nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating wage discrimination against women; a resident scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University
, and a corporate director.
to American citizens. Her father was stationed with the army in the Panama Canal Zone
, where her mother joined him in 1939. At the age of six weeks, Murphy was brought to her grandmother's home in Massachusetts. She continued to hold dual U.S.-Panamanian citizenship until the age of 19, when she took the oath of U.S. citizenship in Washington, D.C.
Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Duke University
, a master's degree in economics from Columbia University
, and a doctorate in economics from Duke University. She was a fellow
at the Institute of Politics of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
named her to the chairmanship of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere. In 1982 Murphy sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, losing to John Kerry. In 1983 she was appointed Secretary of Economic Affairs, a position she held until 1985.
In 1986 Murphy ran for Lieutenant Governor against State Senator Gerald D'Amico in the Democratic primary, winning by 374,714 votes (60.10%) to 248,671 votes (39.89%) for D'Amico. In the general election, the Dukakis-Murphy team garnered 1,157,786 votes (65.15%) versus 525,364 votes (19.56%) for George Kariotis
and Nicholas Nikitas. Murphy served in office from 1987 to 1991.
Murphy was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in 1990
. She withdrew a week before the primary and endorsed former Lt. Governor and former Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti
who ended up losing the nomination to John Silber
.
Today Murphy is a resident scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, vice chair of the board of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, a director of the Citizens Energy Corporation
, a director of The Commonwealth Institute, and a trustee of Regis College
.
She has been awarded 11 honorary degrees and over 100 national, state, and local awards.
and House
committee hearings on pay discrimination against women.
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
from 1987 to 1991, being the first woman in the history of the state to hold a constitutional office. She is now the president of The WAGE Project, a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating wage discrimination against women; a resident scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, and a corporate director.
Early life and education
Murphy was born in 1940 in Ancón, PanamaAncón, Panama
Ancón is a "corregimiento" in central Panama , northeast of the [town-]limits of the town of Balboa. Ancon Hill is also the name of a large hill that overlooks Panama City, and served as a form of protection from pirates, and sea invasion...
to American citizens. Her father was stationed with the army in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, where her mother joined him in 1939. At the age of six weeks, Murphy was brought to her grandmother's home in Massachusetts. She continued to hold dual U.S.-Panamanian citizenship until the age of 19, when she took the oath of U.S. citizenship in Washington, D.C.
Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, a master's degree in economics from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and a doctorate in economics from Duke University. She was a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at the Institute of Politics of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Political career
Murphy served as Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs from 1974 to 1978. In September 1979 President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
named her to the chairmanship of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere. In 1982 Murphy sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, losing to John Kerry. In 1983 she was appointed Secretary of Economic Affairs, a position she held until 1985.
In 1986 Murphy ran for Lieutenant Governor against State Senator Gerald D'Amico in the Democratic primary, winning by 374,714 votes (60.10%) to 248,671 votes (39.89%) for D'Amico. In the general election, the Dukakis-Murphy team garnered 1,157,786 votes (65.15%) versus 525,364 votes (19.56%) for George Kariotis
George Kariotis
George S. Kariotis is a businessman who was the Republican Party nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in 1986.Kariotis is the son of Greek immigrants. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1940, and then served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1962, he founded Alpha...
and Nicholas Nikitas. Murphy served in office from 1987 to 1991.
Murphy was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in 1990
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1990
The 1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. Republican William Weld was elected Governor of Massachusetts for the first time. He beat Democrat John Silber to become the first Republican Governor of Massachusetts since 1975....
. She withdrew a week before the primary and endorsed former Lt. Governor and former Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti
Francis X. Bellotti
Francis Xavier Bellotti is an American lawyer and politician. In his first campaign he was the Democratic nominee for District Attorney of Norfolk County in 1958, but was defeated in the general election. In 1962 Bellotti was elected as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
who ended up losing the nomination to John Silber
John Silber
John Robert Silber is an American academician and former candidate for public office. From 1971 to 1996 he was President of Boston University and from 1996 to 2003 Chancellor of the University. Since 2003 he has been its President Emeritus. In 1990, Silber took a leave of absence from the...
.
Corporate career
In 1990 Murphy entered the corporate world. She became managing director of the law firm Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer, and corporate director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Shawmut National Banks, Fleet National Bank, Fleet Mortgage Company, and Fleet Credit Card Corporation. Blue Cross recruited her to the position of executive vice president in charge of federal and stage media and civic relations. During the latter job, she founded Blue Cross' HealthCare Policy Institute.Today Murphy is a resident scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, vice chair of the board of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, a director of the Citizens Energy Corporation
Citizens Energy Corporation
Citizens Energy Corporation is a non-profit organization that primarily aids the poor in the United States and throughout the world by organizing projects to provide discounted and free home heating services and supplies....
, a director of The Commonwealth Institute, and a trustee of Regis College
Regis College
Regis College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts and sciences college located in Weston, Massachusetts. Founded as a women’s college in 1927, Regis became co-educational in 2007.-History:...
.
She has been awarded 11 honorary degrees and over 100 national, state, and local awards.
The WAGE Project
Her 2005 book, Getting Even: Why women don't get paid like men and what to do about it was the product of a research effort lasting eight years. In conjunction with the book, Murphy founded The WAGE Project (Women Are Getting Even) to battle wage discrimination against working women. She has testified before U.S. SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
committee hearings on pay discrimination against women.