Andrew Murphy

Andrew Murphy is a political activist serving as president of the Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County, executive board member of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, board member of the Korean American Democratic Committee and former policy deputy at the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. 

The pursuit of racial justice within the context of education, and beyond, motivates and drives everything that Andrew does, and he enrolled in LMU's Ed.D. Program to gain additional tools to create systemic change towards racial equity in Los Angeles schools. 

Andrew is passionate about seeing full reparations in multiple forms for Black Americans achieved in his lifetime. As a Korean adopted into a lower-class white family in homogenous Western Kentucky, Black peers in his neighborhood growing up were the ones who defended him from racist bullies, and his first three professional mentors were all Black men. He views this work as a way to repay the tremendous grace given to him. His dissertation examined "The Path to Full Reparations: A Community-Driven Model of Education Reparations for Black Youth in Los Angeles County, Phase I (Early Learners).” 

The support Andrew received in writing his dissertation especially from Committee Chair Dr. Marne Campbell (Chair of the African American Studies Department) and Committee members Drs. Brad Stone and Darin Earley, in addition to support from Dr. Rebecca Stephenson, allowed him to successfully complete his research and do so with the depth, authenticity, and thoughtfulness it required. 

Andrew was selected as the student keynote speaker for LMU's Asian Pacific Islander Graduation Ceremony that was held on April 28, 2023. “Embracing this identity, remembering where you came from and who you are, is what I’ve found will help you have mercy on yourself when you feel the weight of the whole world on your shoulders,” said Murphy. “Today, you have achieved something spectacular — an accomplishment that can never be taken away from you; you are graduating. As you celebrate yourself and get ready for your next chapter, I hope you do go with all your heart, a heart full of mercy.” Read more and watch the video here