Former College Chaplain Rev. Brendan Murphy, O.P. ’87 plans to do “a lot of learning and listening” in his role as PC’s new vice president for student services, which he will assume on July 1, 2006.

As announced by College President Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 last month, Father Murphy will succeed Rev. J. Stuart McPhail, O.P. ’61, who has served as vice president since 1988. Father McPhail will take what Father Shanley called “a well-deserved one-year sabbatical” and return in 2007 to teach theology and to assist the Office of the President on special assignments.

Father McPhail has contributed 35 years of service to the College, highlighted by his work as vice president. The division has experienced a massive transformation during his leadership, including the creation of two new assistant vice president positions and the Office of Student Activities-Involvement-Leadership (S.A.I.L.)/Slavin Center.

A longtime special lecturer of theology, Father McPhail also has served as a hall director, director of special events, assistant College chaplain, and as subprior of St. Thomas Aquinas Priory.

His successor, Father Murphy, served as College chaplain from 2001-2005 before entering the master’s degree program in higher education administration at Boston College last June. Father Murphy, who will complete his degree requirements this summer, said he is “honored and very excited” to be named vice president.

“While honored and grateful, I also am mindful of the great responsibility that comes with this position,” said Father Murphy, who expressed thanks to Father Shanley for this career opportunity and to Father McPhail for his longtime dedication to PC. He will begin the formal transition into his new position after the upcoming Easter Recess, spending time in student services getting to know the personnel and learning more about the division’s operations.

His former role as College chaplain provided him “with a number of transferable skills” that will serve him well, said Father Murphy, who worked in sales for six years before entering the Dominican Order in 1993. He was ordained in 2000. 

“The greatest thing that the chaplain’s position gave me is a sense that I am a member of this community. I know many people on campus and they know me,” he said.