Laura Murphy, Ph.D.

Laura Murphy, PhD (City and Regional Planning) is clinical associate professor in the Department of Global Health Systems and Development at Tulane University, as well as adjunct associate professor at the Payson Center for International Development and an affiliated faculty member at the Stone Center for Latin American Studies. Her current research focuses on technology and social change, with work spanning strategies for mitigating deforestation in the Amazon to community-based responses to the impacts of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has been funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Science Foundation. She currently teaches on themes that span development, population, environment; as well as on practical field research methods. Prof. Murphy earned the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional and Graduate Teaching in 2008.

For the SISE program, Murphy teaches the semester-long design-thinking course for undergraduates (SISE 3010) and integrates design thinking and social innovation approaches into graduate workshops and courses.  In addition to her role as a Social Entrepreneurship Professor, Dr. Murphy is the Taylor Center Design Thinking Outreach Coordinator and Lead Convener for Graduate and Professional Programs. She will be expanding design thinking and social innovation learning opportunities to graduate students and professionals on and off campus, including the Fast 48 weekend Bootcamp and other outreach activities.

Dr. Murphy is a Carnegie Corporation of New York Professorship & Carnegie Fellow.