Murphy honored as leader in admissions field

Jacqueline “Jacki” Murphy, longtime director of admission for undergraduate programs at Saint Michael’s College, is the winner of the Consortium of Vermont College’s Jerry E. Flanagan Service Award for 2014.

Carrie Williams Howe, interim executive director of the Vermont Higher Education Council, said Murphy was nominated by her peers in the Consortium and received the award at an early-January conference of the group in Johnson.

The Jerry E. Flanagan Service Award is given annually to a Consortium of Vermont Colleges (CVC) member “who has shown exemplary leadership within the field of college admissions counseling in Vermont and has gone above and beyond in his or her service for the Consortium.”

Williams said Murphy “has dedicated her distinguished admissions career to her undergraduate alma mater, Saint Michael’s College, where she has embraced 39 years of service in the Office of Admission. Jacki’s work on the Consortium has encompassed a variety of roles including serving in leadership capacities and supporting the annual bus tour for out-of-state school counselors to visit Vermont colleges. She is recognized by colleagues for her years of service, outstanding leadership, and strong mentorship.”

The award was established in 2013 in honor of Jerry E. Flanagan, retired longtime vice president for enrollment at Saint Michael’s. Flanagan helped to found the CVC and served as the organization’s president for more than a decade. “Over Jerry’s 40-year career in college admission counseling in Vermont, he exemplified the traits of service and leadership that this award promotes and enthusiastically encouraged his colleagues to do the same, collaborating in the work of the Consortium,” Williams said.

Murphy’s admissions career at Saint Michael’s began when Flanagan, who took over admissions in 1975, hired her to work for him not long after Murphy’s 1974 Saint Michael’s graduation as one of the pioneer woman graduates. She’s been on the job since. Flanagan says she was with him right at the start when he helped to start the Consortium in the 1970s.

“For all that Jacki has done for the Consortium, they should have named the award for both of us,” said Flanagan, who, since his 2013 retirement from decades leading the College’s enrollment efforts, has been helping the College with fund-raising in the Institutional Advancement Office. “I’m thrilled that they decided to give her the award, and I’m very happy about it,’ he said.

The mission of the Consortium of Vermont Colleges is to collaborate in promoting the wealth and diversity of higher education opportunities in Vermont and to highlight the attractiveness of the State of Vermont as an ideal setting for a college experience.  Consortium members include 138 professional staff from 20 colleges and VSAC.