Yvette Murphy-Erby, longtime faculty member and administrator at the University of Arkansas, passed away on May 25. She was 62 years old.
Prior to her career in academia, Dr. Murphy-Erby spent 20 years as a social worker. In 2004, she transitioned to higher education as an assistant professor of social work at the University of Arkansas. She was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2010 and was promoted to full professor in 2013. As a scholar, she focused on child, adolescent, and family well-being, particularly among underserved populations and the child welfare system. Her research led her to co-authoring Incorporating Intersectionality in Social Work Practice, Research, Policy, and Education (National Association of Social Workers, 2009).
In addition to teaching and conducting research, Dr. Murphy-Erby held several academic leadership roles, including director of the bachelor’s degree in social work program, interim director of the African and African American studies program, director of the School of Social Work, and associate dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. She was also the first social work faculty member to hold a position in the university’s central administration. Initially, she was appointed vice provost. In 2017, she became the university’s first woman to serve as vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.
A three-time graduate of the University of North Carolina System, Dr. Murphy-Erby earned her bachelor’s degree from the Charlotte campus, her master of social work degree from the Chapel Hill campus, and her Ph.D. from the Greensboro campus.