By Mike Greife,
July 21, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Jeff Murphy, assistant director of University Relations for media
relations at the University of Central Missouri, recently was named recipient of the
Carl B. Foster/John M. Inglish Prize for Outstanding Service in Public Relations.
The award was presented to Murphy by Kelly Waldram-Cramer, UCM director of marketing
and promotions.
“Receiving the Foster-Inglish Award came as a huge surprise at a recent staff meeting,
and it was both an honor and very humbling considering the many other staff members
who are deserving of recognition,” Murphy said. “Having worked with John Inglish and
known Carl Foster, who were PR pioneers at UCM, it means a lot to me to receive an
award that allows me to celebrate and honor their legacy.”
Murphy also was the first recipient of the award in his former role a news bureau
manager when it was created in 2000 to honor achievement and service by members of
the university’s public relations staff. John Inglish, director emeritus of public
relations, established an endowment through the UCM Alumni Foundation the year he
retired to honor his longtime friend and mentor, the late Carl Foster, who retired
as director emeritus of public relations in 1986 after 19 years of service to the
university. Inglish devoted more than 27 years to UCM’s public relations office before
he retired.
Murphy becomes the 14th member of the University Relations staff to receive the award
since its inception. The award includes the addition of the recipient’s name on a
plaque, which is displayed in University Relations, Administration 302, and a monetary
prize that is made possible by the endowment.
“Jeff plays a critical role in our office and consistently goes above and beyond the
call of duty,” Waldram-Cramer said. “He is someone who exemplifies service and his
dedication to UCM is unmatched. He is the type of person one aspires to be–kind, generous,
hard-working, ethical and humble. He is an invaluable asset to University Relations
and UCM.”
A Johnson County native, Murphy is a 1976 graduate of University High School and received
a bachelor’s degree in public relations in 1980 and a master’s degree in communication
in 1995, both from UCM. Following an eight-year career in journalism with the Warrensburg
“Daily Star-Journal,” he joined the UCM staff in 1989 as news bureau assistant and
was promoted to news bureau manager in 1990. He was named assistant director of the
Office of Communication and Creative Services in 2002, and served as interim director
for four months in 2003 prior to being named to his current post.
Murphy coordinates contact with local, regional and national media on behalf of UCM,
serving as university spokesperson and working closely with university administration
and staff to provide a seamless flow of information about university policy, initiatives
and key events. He also co-supervises a student public relations firm, Innovative
Public Relations, providing guidance and expertise to a group of public relations
students who function as a public relations firm under the supervision of the Office
of University Relations and Department of Communication.
Murphy has served in leadership roles with a variety of area organizations and has
often played a role in public relations efforts. Over the years, this has included
publicity for events such as the Johnson County Heart Walk and American Heart Association’s
Go Red for Women, the College High All-School Reunion Committee, and publicity for
events and organizations such as the former Tailgate with the City street fair, Johnson
County United Way and Johnson County CLIMB.
In his professional role at UCM, Murphy was the 2015 recipient of the J. P. Mees Outstanding
Professional Staff Award, the highest honor presented annually to a member of the
university’s professional staff. He serves as a member of the Threat Assessment Team,
Crisis Team, and Emergency Planning Team, the Campus Safety Commission, and the Commencement
Committee. He was twice elected by his peers to serve on the UCM Professional Staff
Council.
Murphy’s daughter, Jessica Boeding, and her husband, L. J., reside in Blue Springs
with his three grandchildren, Colin, Chloe and Olivia. He is the son of Deanna Boosinger,
Knob Noster, and the late Dale Murphy, and longtime resident of Warrensburg and Sedalia.
