Sharer-in-ChiefReg Murphy named inaugural Executive-in-ResidenceNoted businessman, author and civic leader Reg Murphy joins <strong>the</strong> School<strong>of</strong> Business and Public Affairs at <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> as <strong>the</strong>inaugural Executive-in-Residence for fall semester 2012. An early supporter<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s transformation to a comprehensive undergraduateinstitution, Murphy chairs <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s Athletic Futures Committee, whichhas introduced a host <strong>of</strong> new and successful intercollegiate teams.“Reg Murphy continues to be a significant catalyst for <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’ssuccessful transformation,” <strong>College</strong> President Valerie Hepburn said,announcing his appointment. “Reg brings tremendous experience andunparalleled accomplishment combined with true compassion and wisecounsel for our students. His incredible combination <strong>of</strong> talents makeshim <strong>the</strong> ideal person to launch our executive-in-residence program. Weall look forward to having Reg as a member <strong>of</strong> our faculty and as a regularcontributor to academics and campus life.”Murphy doesn’t think <strong>of</strong> himself as faculty. “Sharer-in-chief is more likeit,” he said. “If people like me share <strong>the</strong>ir work and life experiences, we mayhelp students find <strong>the</strong>ir real career interests. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students I’ve metare eager to do well not just in school, but in life. That’s encouraging.”In his role as Executive-in-Residence, Murphy will lecture in <strong>the</strong> businessand public affairs degree programs, organize informal lunches with groups<strong>of</strong> students, consult with faculty, and provide career advising one-on-one.<strong>The</strong> Executive-in-Residence plays an important role advising students onjob-search and interview skills and strategies, planning a career path, andrecommending courses and extracurricular activities that can help preparefor various careers.“I hope that my business and pr<strong>of</strong>essional experience will add to <strong>the</strong>students’ understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world <strong>the</strong>y will be entering. What I wouldlike to do is share some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> things I have learned and some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mistakesI have made. Sometimes you learn more from <strong>the</strong> mistakes than from <strong>the</strong>successes,” Murphy explained. “Perhaps <strong>the</strong>y will feel a little more preparedfor whatever <strong>the</strong>y undertake in <strong>the</strong>ir working lives.”Reg Murphy is a Gainesville, <strong>Georgia</strong>, native, whose business and publicaffairs career is extensive. He is vice chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National GeographicSociety and served as president and CEO <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Society from 1995-98.Prior to that, he served as publisher and CEO <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baltimore Sun, editor<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Atlanta Constitution, and editor and publisher <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> San FranciscoExaminer. He is on <strong>the</strong> board <strong>of</strong> directors <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Omnicom Group, MSD&TFunds, and SIRSI, as well as a trustee <strong>of</strong> Mercer University and formertrustee <strong>of</strong> Brenau.“Like a lot <strong>of</strong> people, I changed direction in college. Originally, my goalwas to go to medical school,” Murphy noted, “but I needed income. <strong>The</strong>Macon Telegraph hired me as a summer replacement after my first year.16 <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>
<strong>The</strong> summer replacement became a full-time job.I worked a 40-hour week and stayed in school.”“Journalism just never turned me loose – ormaybe I didn’t turn journalism loose. It was agreat start to a career.”Murphy never thought <strong>of</strong> journalism as a job.“It always seemed like fun that I got paid to do.Living in Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, andBaltimore as a journalist, editor and publisher,and working in Washington, DC, at NationalGeographic – those were great adventures.”An avid golfer, he joined <strong>the</strong> executive committee<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> U.S. Golf Association in 1989, served as vicepresident <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> USGA in 1992, chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Championship Committee in 1993, and presidentin 1994. He co-chaired <strong>the</strong> World AmateurGolf Federation in 1994 and captained <strong>the</strong> U.S.team for <strong>the</strong> 1998 World Amateur Championship inSantiago, Chile.Murphy recently returned to college to experiencebeing a student again. He took Dr. Hepburn’s public affairscourse surveying health care issues (“Was that everenlightening!” he commented) and during spring term,he sat in on Dr. Jim Fullerton’s leadership class (LEAD3100), noting how rapidly <strong>the</strong> students were learningwhile working in groups.This fall, he hopes to work with students he met inthose classes, such as George Horton, an intern withCongressman Jack Kingston, and student-athlete SheaAble, a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> women’s golf team.Horton, who will graduate in December with his BBA,recognized Murphy’s name from <strong>the</strong> column he regularlywrites for <strong>The</strong> Brunswick News. “But I didn’t expect tobe going to leadership class with him, much less askinghim for advice about what to do after graduation,”Horton laughed.“Reg is charismatic. He’s a great listener as well as a goodstoryteller,” Horton continued. “I’m learning that listeningis an important aspect <strong>of</strong> success.”Horton used <strong>the</strong> example <strong>of</strong> a jigsaw puzzle whendescribing his interactions with Murphy. “He sees <strong>the</strong>big picture, like <strong>the</strong> cover on <strong>the</strong> box, so he can suggestwhere <strong>the</strong> different pieces might fit toge<strong>the</strong>r.” Hortonadmitted he isn’t sure yet <strong>of</strong> a post-graduation career,but said he’s feeling more secure about <strong>the</strong> directionhe’s heading.He also values Murphy’s take on ethical decisionmaking. “I suppose it’s in <strong>the</strong> spotlight right now because<strong>of</strong> elections, but I appreciate his perspective <strong>of</strong> ethics as aseries <strong>of</strong> daily choices we make to do what is right.”Senior Shea Able got to knowMurphy in <strong>the</strong> classroom andon <strong>the</strong> golf course.“This is a man who personallycovered <strong>the</strong> Martin Lu<strong>the</strong>r King, Jr., ‘Ihave a dream…’ speech. Before Reg,I had never met anyone who was actually<strong>the</strong>re,” Horton stressed. “Thisis <strong>the</strong> businessman who turnedNational Geographic around, cuttingstaff to save <strong>the</strong> publication.When you have <strong>the</strong> opportunity totalk to someone who has made hardchoices and personally dealt withsetbacks, it goes a long way towardsputting things into an objectiveperspective instead <strong>of</strong> feeling likeyou’re at <strong>the</strong> bottom <strong>of</strong> a deep hole.”Senior Shea Able, who is also abusiness major, first met Murphyoutside <strong>the</strong> classroom, when he invited <strong>the</strong> Marinerswomen’s golf team to play with <strong>the</strong> Mercer team atFrederica during fall 2010. She caught up with him againin Dr. Fullerton’s class during spring 2012.“At first, I was intimidated,” Able admitted. “I was veryimpressed with his accomplishments. By <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>semester, I was sharing a table with him – <strong>the</strong>re were alot <strong>of</strong> group discussions by table – and I always wanted tohear his thoughts. I was blown away by his humbleness,his knowledge, and his awesome work ethic.”“I love his attitude. Through his actions and words, hemakes it clear that success is not <strong>the</strong> most important thingin life, but how you help o<strong>the</strong>rs is. I feel <strong>the</strong> same wayand try to live by his example. <strong>The</strong> opportunity to haveReg Murphy interacting with students on campus is anamazing advantage for our school.”Horton summed it up, “This is a man who truly cares,who makes time for students. I’m lucky to have himas a mentor and I know he is going to be a solid executivein-residence.”“Executives-in-residence bring energy and uniqueperspective to campus by working with students to explorelife paths and clarify career opportunities and by bringing<strong>the</strong>ir life’s experiences to classroom discussions,” Dr. SkipMounts, Dean <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Business and Public Affairs,said. “<strong>The</strong>ir insights are invaluable, particularly as <strong>the</strong>ymentor students. <strong>The</strong>se relationships and connectionsprovide additional meaning to <strong>the</strong> campus experience forbusiness students, <strong>of</strong>ten impacting <strong>the</strong>m for a lifetime.Clearly, executives will be valued members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> faculty.”<strong>The</strong> Executive-in-Residence is appointed by <strong>the</strong> Dean<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Business and Public Affairs for renewableone-semester terms. u<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 17