Colleen Murphy

As a first-generation transfer student, Colleen has overcome many hurdles in order to accomplish her goal of completing a college education with plans of continuing on to law school. Over the course of her life, she has “experienced first-hand some of the most dangerous and pervasive issues that plague our society today, including domestic violence, substance use disorder, and homelessness.”

Colleen returned to school, Grossmont College, when her son was 6 months old. “My goals at that time were modest; do the bare-minimum to complete an AA in Psychology and possibly transfer to a four-year institution.” She had significant barriers when it came to being successful in her academic pursuits, so she sought support from every possible program, resource, group, and counselor available to her. Colleen became very involved in the campus and used the knowledge she gained about support groups to co-found the Fighting Recidivism through Education and Empowerment Club, a student organization dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated individuals. Colleen graduated from Grossmont with multiple degrees and was accepted to UC San Diego after successfully petitioning an admissions denial.

Colleen states that as difficult as her path has been, she knows that if it were not for these lived experiences, she would not be the undeniably resilient and driven individual she is today. Her course of study in Sociology has helped her realize that the circumstances surrounding mass incarceration, addiction, and violence are anything but unique.

"Sharing my story openly and honestly has been the single most empowering experience I’ve ever had. I realize that there are so many individuals on-campus as well as out in the community who face significant social and institutional barriers to successfully obtaining higher education. I am deeply committed to helping individuals realize their educational goals, creating an inclusive community, and dismantling stigma associated with this demographic.”