Diane Lyden Murphy

Diane Lyden Murphy is an associate professor in the School of Social Work. She served as Dean of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics from 2005 to 2023. Her service as Falk College Dean followed a 17-year appointment as Director of the Women’s Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. She received four degrees at the University and joined the faculty in the School of Social Work in 1978. Her contributions to the University have included co-authoring the University’s sexual harassment policy, initiating studies of gender pay equity, developing adoption and domestic partner benefits and creating a family-friendly environment for the University. Her contributions to the University have been recognized with the Excellence in Graduate Education Award from the Graduate School, the Francis McMillan Parks Women of Influence Award, and a Chancellor’s Citation. In 2005, the Women’s Studies Program established the Diane Lyden Murphy Women’s Studies Activism Award in her honor. As Dean, she established the College of Human Services and Health Professions’ Research Center, funding four annual HSHP faculty research grants. The College of HSHP has become one of the fastest growing colleges at the University under Dean Murphy’s guidance and leadership. In 2008, the name of the college was changed to College of David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Along with the faculty, Dean Murphy has developed and implemented the Sport Management major, as well as the formation and implementation of a new academic unit – the Department of Health and Wellness, offering an undergraduate major in Health and Wellness. Among Dean Murphy’s academic accomplishments has been leading the faculty in inter-disciplinary collaboration with several other academic units. The development of dual degrees in Sport Management (CoHE) and Marketing (Whitman); Early Childhood Education (CoHE) and School of Education; a new degree in Public Health (MPH) is being planned with Health and Wellness (CoHE, Maxwell (A&S) and University Hospital (SUNY). Additionally, CoHE is leading an All-University Wellness Program for the entire University to include students, faculty and staff. After her appointment as Dean of the College of Human Services and Health Professions, Dean Murphy conducted an intense review of budget practices and procedures over the history of the six year old college. As a result of the review, she implemented an aggressive plan for pay equity among the faculty and staff in the college, and has a highly successful record in attracting and hiring new faculty and staff to move the college forward during this fast-paced period of growth.