UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Dan Murphy will begin as the director for Commonwealth Campus support in Student Affairs on Sept. 1. This newly created position will provide leadership for the central resources dedicated to support the Student Affairs operations at Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses as well as assist with assist in advocating for the interests of students at those campuses. He will also co-advise CCSG, the Penn State Council of Commonwealth Student Governments.

“This position has been needed for quite some time, but the stars were not aligned to make it possible until now. The good fortune that allows it is doubly so because we were able to attract to the role someone with Dan’s wonderful skill, knowledge and enthusiasm,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “Students and colleagues at the Commonwealth Campuses will benefit tremendously from Dan’s contributions, and I could not be more pleased.”

Murphy is transitioning to this new position from his role as director of Student Orientation and Transition Programs at Penn State and will bring his extensive experiences working with the campuses through the change of campus process, assisting campuses in shared content and processes for New Student Orientation and coordinating the University-wide virtual New Student Orientation for incoming students at all 20 undergraduate campuses. In addition, Murphy has served as the co-chair for University-wide efforts such as the Wellness Days programming committee and the Seamless Cocurricular Experience working group for One Penn State 2025.   

“Serving new Penn Staters and their families has been one of the great privileges of my career. In that time, I have come to better know, understand and appreciate the central role the amazing work happening at the campuses plays in student success and the Penn State experience,” said Murphy. “I look forward to supporting that great work in this new role.”

Murphy joined Penn State in 2012 as the inaugural director for Student Orientation and Transition Programs. During his tenure, he was instrumental in improving the experience for students transitioning to or through the University. He led efforts to expand Welcome Week as well as change of campus programming, and he enhanced collaborations by establishing the Student Orientation and Transition Network, a network of more than 200 faculty and staff supporting orientation and transition programming throughout the University. Murphy also brought innovation and creativity to orientation with the collaborative development of programs such as “Results Will Vary*,” an educational theater experience for New Student Orientation. 

Murphy has been active as a volunteer leader in the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA), including serving on the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013. Prior to coming to Penn State, Murphy worked in orientation and first-year experience programs at Indiana University Bloomington and James Madison University. 

Murphy received his bachelor’s degree in music and organizational communication from Western Michigan University, Michigan, and his master’s degree in counseling psychology from James Madison University, Virginia.