Only weeks before Dr. Aideen Murphy passed away in mid-April, she shared an idea with Dr. Michelle Santana. Murphy wanted to establish a mentorship program for first-generation students at Neumann. As a first-generation student herself, Murphy knew the difficulties that this group of students faced in navigating the often-unfamiliar headwinds of higher education.
When Murphy died suddenly, Santana enlisted Bettsy McKlaine, director of admissions degree completion and graduate programs, to bring the concept to fruition. In August 2021, the pair launched the Aideen Murphy Mentorship Program, named in honor of the former associate professor in the School of Education and Human Services. The program matches Neumann faculty, staff, and alumni who are willing to act as mentors with students who have requested guidance.