IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2008
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:

Office: 724.738.4854

Cell: 724.991.8302

gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

Trustee Murray earns honorary doctorate from St. Francis

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Dennis Murray, a Slippery Rock University alumnus and trustee, will receive an honorary doctorate of pedagogy from St. Francis University May 4. The award-winning educator and superintendent of the Altoona Area School District has been active with SRU since graduating with a degree in education in 1963.

            “This is the highest award St. Francis can give, so I am quite pleased they are giving it to me,” said Murray, who teaches educational statistics at St. Francis. “I am humbled by it.” 

            Murray has broad-based educational experience, including 24 years as Altoona superintendent and assistant superintendent for six years. He has worked as an assistant superintendent, supervisor of elementary education, school board member, vocational-technical school chief administrator, college professor and college administrator. 

            An SRU Trustee since 1997, Murray has been the recipient of many prestigious educational awards, including the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Leadership Award, University of Pittsburgh's Distinguished Educator Award, Penn State University’s Educational Leadership and the Penn State Alumni Association’s Excellence in Education Award.

           Following graduation from SRU, Murray earned his master’s degree from Duquesne University in 1965 and his doctorate from Pennsylvania State in 1973.

           Although he spent much of his professional life in the central and eastern part of the state, he continues to be committed to SRU. “Slippery Rock was my launching pad for my career. I’ll always have a warm spot in my heart for Slippery Rock,” he said.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.