Kevin P Murphy

Kevin P Murphy serves as Professor of History at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he has established a distinguished career in sexuality studies, queer history, and social justice scholarship. His ongoing research examines the intersections of LGBTQIA+ experiences with broader American historical narratives, supported by significant external funding from foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies.

Murphy's scholarly focus encompasses the history of sexuality, queer theory, and LGBTQIA+ rights movements within the United States, with expanding work in environmental justice and mass incarceration. His research directly contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to reduced inequalities and sustainable communities. Methodologically, he pioneers interdisciplinary collaborations between academic historians, public history institutions, and community organizations to produce engaged scholarship that addresses contemporary social challenges through historical frameworks.

Analysis of Murphy's recent publications (2016-2020) shows a clear evolution toward collaborative, public-facing scholarship. His co-edited volume 'The Routledge History of American Sexuality' (2020) represents a major reference work in the field, while his curated exhibitions on 'Climates of Inequality' and 'States of Incarceration' demonstrate innovative approaches to translating historical research into community dialogue. This trajectory reflects a growing emphasis on solution-oriented scholarship that bridges academic rigor with public impact.

Scientific awards include:

• Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellows, Fall 2006

Murphy currently directs six active research projects totaling over $2 million in external funding, primarily from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. As Principal Investigator for 'The Renewal Project' (2025-2028) and the 'Cooley ACLS Emerging Voices Fellow' (2022-2024), he develops innovative graduate training models in heritage studies. His collaborative project 'Minnesota Transform: A Just University for Just Futures' (2020-2024) creates interdisciplinary pathways for addressing systemic inequities in higher education through historical consciousness.

He is a founding member of the University of Minnesota's Heritage Studies and Public History Program in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, and serves as lead curator for the Humanities Action Lab's national exhibition network. This work involves coordinating teams across 20+ universities to produce community-engaged exhibitions on environmental justice and mass incarceration, establishing new models for collaborative historical practice.