Laura Murphy, PhD

Laura Murphy, PhD, is a trans-disciplinary scholar studying intertwined issues of environment, technology, population, and development. Her work experience since 1983 spans the globe: Indonesia, Ecuador, Kenya and New Orleans. Her doctoral studies (UNC-CH City and Regional planning, 1998) explained the determinants of human well-being and deforestation among Amazonian in-migrants.  NSF-funded research (2006-10) explored how mobile phones and kitchen gardens are adaptive community-based responses to the impacts of AIDS in rural Africa. Currently she's elaborating "Design Capabilities" and documenting theories of social innovation. At Tulane since 2000, Prof Murphy offers graduate courses in global development theory and practice, social innovation, design-thinking, and field research methods. She earned the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education in 2008. Murphy is associate director at Tulane’s university-wide Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, leading research & scholarship initiatives.