Recent Holy Cross Graduate Awarded Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship

WORCESTER, Mass. – Megan Murphy, a member of the class of 2008, received a Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship to assist with graduate school and teaching certification. Murphy plans on getting her master’s in math education.

The Knowles Fellowship helps those who are committed to teaching high school science and/or math in U.S. schools. The program supports recipients professionally and financially for up to five years through a teacher preparation program. Even after the schooling and licensure is completed, the fellows continue to receive support as part of a network; they are exposed to a variety of teaching resources, curriculum and materials, and research and experts in the field.

A math major with a women’s and gender studies concentration, Murphy had heard about the fellowship her senior year at Holy Cross, but knew that she didn’t want to immediately jump into graduate school. However, she did develop an interest in teaching with some help from her senior women’s and gender studies project.

"My capstone project on girls and math education was a great opportunity to explore the research side of education and to explore the many different classroom techniques and theories on teaching," Murphy said.

After graduation, the Spokane, Wash. native joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). JVC, a national and international program that makes a commitment to serve where the need is greatest, is based in four core values of social justice, simple living, community, and spirituality. Murphy still currently works for the Matt Talbot Center in Seattle, Wash., which is an outpatient project for people with addiction.

Murphy is excited to go to graduate school and get into the classroom to teach.

"I love math,” she said, "but I love teaching even more. I hope to be a strong female role model in math and any goals for all my students, especially females. I want to change the way that math is taught and teach with interaction, excitement, and passion."