معرفی
Laura Murphy, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences at Tulane University. She served as Associate Director of Research & Scholarship at the Taylor Center, leading research, evaluation, and education strategy while pioneering human-centered design initiatives for social change.
Her academic foundation includes:
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University
- Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Murphy's research integrates appropriate technology with community development, livelihood systems, and population-environment dynamics through socio-technical frameworks. She developed the influential Design Capabilities project—merging capabilities approach theory with collaborative problem-solving methods—and established Tulane's Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (SISE) minor alongside signature programs like the Fast 48 boot camp and DT & Donuts workshops.
Her scholarly impact is recognized through the Carnegie Corporation Professorship, with research sustained by MacArthur Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and National Science Foundation grants. International fieldwork across Indonesia, Ecuador, and Kenya since the 1980s informs her applied approach to sustainable development.
Dr. Murphy extends her expertise through custom training for organizations including YALI, global health scholars, and NGOs, while teaching critical development theory and leading Stone Center for Latin American Studies research methods workshops.
