U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy will speak at Gettysburg College on Saturday, May 14, during the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2022.
The 11 a.m. ceremony will take place, rain or shine, on the Beachem Portico on the north side of Pennsylvania Hall.
“I’m honored and humbled to have been asked by Gettysburg College to serve as this year’s Commencement speaker,” Rep. Murphy said. “I look forward to celebrating the graduating students in the Class of 2022, in the presence of their proud families and faculty, as they complete one important chapter of their lives and begin an exciting new chapter.”
Not only has Rep. Murphy served Florida’s Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017, but she is also a former educator, businesswoman, and national security specialist—focused on jobs, security, and opportunities for every American. The College looks forward to Rep. Murphy sharing her wealth of knowledge with the Class of 2022, as each graduate prepares to embark on their own meaningful journeys.
“At Gettysburg College, we are committed to leading lives of consequence and building a better, more just world. Throughout her distinguished career, Rep. Murphy has embodied this very commitment,” President Iuliano said. “As the first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress, and the first woman of color to lead the Blue Dog Coalition, Rep. Murphy is a change-maker—and an inspiring example of what can be achieved when we work in service to others and the greater good. I have no doubt that our remarkable Class of 2022 will be moved by her story and graduate energized to Do Great Work in the world.”
About the speaker:
U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy represents Florida’s Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district includes all of Seminole County and much of northern Orange County, including downtown Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, and the University of Central Florida.
Rep. Murphy is the first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress in our nation’s history. She serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, where she is a member of the Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support. She also serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and is a member of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces. In July 2021, Rep. Murphy was appointed to serve on the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.
In addition to her committee assignments, Rep. Murphy serves as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of Democrats focused on fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and a principled and pragmatic approach to legislating. Rep. Murphy is the first woman of color to lead the Blue Dogs and only the second member in the coalition’s history to serve consecutive leadership terms.
Rep. Murphy also serves as a Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic majority. In this role, she helps Democrats communicate with House leadership so that legislation that comes to the House floor reflects the views of the entire Democratic caucus. As Chief Deputy Whip, Rep. Murphy has a seat on the powerful House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which recommends committee assignments to the Democratic caucus and helps shape the House policy agenda.
Before her election to Congress, Rep. Murphy was a businesswoman, college instructor, and consultant. She served as a national security specialist in the office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, where she received numerous awards for her distinguished service, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. Congresswoman Murphy holds a master’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s in economics from the College of William & Mary.
For more information about Commencement for the Class of 2022, please visit the Commencement website. It will be updated frequently in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.
By Molly Foster
Photos courtesy of Nate Pesce and Eric Connolly / U.S. House of Representatives
Posted: 03/10/22