Dr. Keenan Murray: 2020 Outstanding Full-time Faculty

 

Described over and over as humble, down to earth, and professional, Keenan Murray has been recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Full-time Faculty for Cuyamaca College.

 

Murray’s nominators recognized him for creating a space for students to learn, experiment, and spend time with other students in the program. His commitment to student support and success has been illustrated through spring’s rapid transition to online/remote learning. Nominators – peers and students – noted Murray’s innovation and advocacy for students. Beyond simply holding office hours, Murray created a Zoom Room where student can hang out while doing their homework. The space provides them access to Murray and other students to ask for help or to discuss challenges specific to students in our current reality.

 

One student noted, “Many of my teachers haven’t been as accessible during the pandemic, which is understandable given the circumstances, but he has been as, if not more, available to his students.”

 

Murray was recognized for working across departments to help students and faculty. His nomination acknowledged his dedication to learning more and new ways to help students get the most out of their time at Cuyamaca as well as for regularly reaching out his peers to check in and see if they are managing our remote reality.

 

He contributes to his community by volunteering as a cabin counselor for Camp Ronald McDonald, a camp focused on allowing children with cancer and their siblings to have time focused on fun. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, and has worked for the San Diego Air Pollution Control District and UCSD as well as an instructor for CSU, Fullerton and University of Phoenix. He joined Cuyamaca College as a full-time faculty member in January, 2019 after previously serving in an adjunct capacity, and currently teaches engineering.

 

One nominator described him as, “A shining example of why community college is so approachable and useful for so many people.”