Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy (English, ’97) is the Media Relations Coordinator at Chico State. When he's not writing press releases and pitching story ideas to the media or fielding media inquiries, he's writing about human interest stories, sports, the outdoors and the remarkable students, staff and faculty at Chico State.

Contact Sean Murphy at samurphy@csuchico.edu

Two copies of a book titled The Best We Could Do, one is closed and the other is open

Illustrated Memoir ‘The Best We Could Do’ Named Book in Common for 2022–23

The 2022–23 Book in Common is Thi Bui’s “The Best We Could Do,” a 2017 illustrated memoir about the author’s family’s journey from Vietnam to the United States and the universal struggles of connecting with family, culture and identity.

The front of a library on an academic campus

Worth Sharing: Martinez Recognized with National Student Voting Honor

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Paper streamers shoot into the night sky from atop a Commencement state with graduates celebrating in the foreground

2022 Commencement Ceremonies to Take Place In Person Beginning Wednesday Night

Beginning Wednesday, approximately 3,700 students will participate in Chico State’s Commencement ceremonies.

Business Double Major Embraces Role of Mentor

College of Business outstanding senior Nathaniel Nevels overcomes tragedy to thrive at Chico State.

Monique Sendze stands outside a brick-lined building

Meet: Monique Sendze

As Chico State's new Vice President of Information Technology, Monique Sendze blends an educator's mindset with a deep acumen of technology.

Psychology Major Defies the Odds

After battling depression, an eating disorder, and drug dependency, Leo Simpson finds hope at the end of their college journey.

Portrait of Angel Bliss and her 17-month-old son

Political Science Major Fulfills Her Potential

Leaving home at age 15 was a decision that perhaps saved Angel Bliss's life—today, the single mother continues the pursuit of her college degree.

Psychology Major Makes the Most of a Second Chance

After a life-altering choice landed him in legal trouble, Sal Hernandez Rodriguez is firmly on the road to earning a college degree.

Asian Studies and Business Administration Major Reflects on a Promise Kept

A college degree was something that Rodaisha James' mother talked to her and her sister about before she passed away—now Rodaisha will graduate from Chico State with two degrees.

Photo collage of the four students featured in the story.

Promoting Achievement Through Hope

More than 23,000 children age out of the nation’s foster system annually—less than 3 percent of whom will earn a college degree in their lifetime. Every year, students in the University’s Promoting Achievement Through Hope Scholars program are reversing that narrative with the support of staff and their peers.

Selena Thao poses sitting on a couch with two yellow pillows on her either side.

Social Work Major Explores Students’ Sense of Belonging on Campus

Social work major Selena Thao uses infectious energy, strong empathy, and a justice approach to engage with others—particularly her fellow students.

The sun sets in the background on a college campus, where students walk and trees line a walkway.

Worth Sharing: Maready, Sanders Capture Top Honors at Plastics Research Expo

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

An academic building on a college campus flanked by trees

Worth Sharing: Chico State Model UN Garners Outstanding Delegation Award

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Sunlight breaks through the branches and leaves of oak trees on a college campus

Worth Sharing: Medic, Vega Co-Author Piece for CSU

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Business students work at a computer with business tickers displayed above them.

Chico State’s New Bloomberg Terminal Offers Cutting-Edge Experience

The College of Business' new FinTech Lab is an investment research workroom and provide students with cutting-edge software and real-time trading observations.

Rose bushes in the foreground with academic buildings on a college campus in the background

Worth Sharing: Chico State Recognized for Accessibility Efforts

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

College students walk past an academic building on a cloudless sunny day.

Worth Sharing: Professor Emerita Receives Higher Ed Distinguished Service Award

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

The sun sets amidst clouds on a spring evening, with trees and academic buildings in the background.

Worth Sharing: Student Researchers Co-Author Article

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Digital graphic of Cesar Chavez that reads "Respecting and Honoring Cesar Chavez"

Events at Chico State Honoring Legacy of César Chávez Begin This Week

Chico State will recognize the efforts and sacrifice of activist César Chávez with more than a half dozen events on and off campus beginning this week.

A sign outside a large room on a college campus reads "Campus Sustainability Day"

Annual ‘This Way to Sustainability’ Conference Showcases Environmental and Climate Justice

This Way to Sustainability, the nation’s largest student-run conference focused on sustainability, returns virtually for two days this week.

Lights illuminate the exterior of an academic building on a college campus.

Worth Sharing: Duffy Named West Region Player of the Year

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Monica Soderstrom stands behind a waist-high brick wall with a brick building behind her.

5 Questions with Community Health Director and Distinguished Alumna Monica Soderstrom

Whether working in a Haitian orphanage after graduation or supporting nurses during the Camp Fire, the public health needs of her community has always been the core of Monica Soderstrom's work.

Worth Sharing: Nguyen, Brady Honored by CCAA

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Kathleen Grave speaks into a microphone from a podium.

5 Questions with Educator and Distinguished Alumna Kathleen Grave

Kathleen Grave has worked in Silicon Valley, taught at Pepperdine University, and is CEO of a CBD company—she is also being honored as a Distinguished Alumni for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

A computer monitor shows the game development work students have been doing in a classroom.

Worth Sharing: CAGD Program Earns National Recognition

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

The sun sets behind an academic building.

University Among Nation’s Top Fulbright Scholar-Producing Higher Ed Institutions

With three scholars teaching and researching abroad, Chico State was acknowledged by the US Department of State as a national leader in higher education.

A woman and man pose and smile outside a medical building.

Alumni Lead Push for State-of-the-Art Cancer Treatment Locally

Enloe Cancer Center proudly boasts one of the only cancer-fighting machines of its kind in the state—and four Chico State alumni are to thank for bringing such technology to our community.

Worth Sharing: Middleman Co-Organizes Art Exhibit at Stanford

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

A banner reading "Chico State Giving Day" sits in front of a balloon arch outside.

Chico State’s Annual Giving Day—24 Hours, 100 Worthy Causes

Chico State Giving Day is the University's annual 24-hour fundraising effort to benefit dozens of campus causes.

A stylish structure stands on an elevated surface outside a building on a college campus.

Worth Sharing: Holbert, Reyes Featured in AGDAILY

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Sophia Gelsman uses an official ballot box that is placed in front the Bell Memorial Union (BMU).

Secretary of State of California Weber to Recognize Chico State with Civic Engagement Honor

Secretary of State of California Shirley Weber will visit Chico State on Thursday to recognize the University’s civic engagement efforts last year to promote voter participation.

Blooming trees like a walkway on a college campus.

Worth Sharing: Lajoie and Gentry Earn CCAA Honors

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

A person wearing a Martin Luther King Jr t-shirt and a Black Lives Matter pin locks arms with another person.

Chico State to Celebrate Black History Month with In-Person and Virtual Events

With the theme "Young, Gifted and Black," Chico State celebrates Black History Month with in-person and virtual events this month.

A museum space displays several different bicycles with a number of interactive displays against the walls.

Switching Gears: Gateway Science Museum’s New Exhibit All About Bikes

The Gateway Science Museum’s newest exhibit will explore the history, evolution and science of our beloved bikes.

Kendall Hall sits under a fall early-evening sky.

Worth Sharing: Cross Country Squads Flex Academic Muscles Nationally

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

O'Connell Technology Center under a cloudy sky

Chico State Names New Vice President of Information Technology

Filling its first-ever position of vice president of information technologies and chief information officer, Chico State has hired Monique Sendze.

An all-electric street sweeper is parked outside an academic building.

Making CSU History: Chico State Adds All-Electric Street Sweeper to Fleet

In its push to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, Chico State became the first CSU campus to purchase and use an all-electric street sweeper.

A young man and his dog run past the entrance to a college campus during a late afternoon in winter.

Chico State Announces New Health and Safety Guidelines for On-Campus Events

To meet new California health and safety guidelines, Chico State has updated its policies for large indoor athletic, theatre, music and performing arts events occurring on campus.

Constantin Raether, wearing a mask and squeezing a syringe, works in the RAD Lab and Soil Preparation Area at the University Farm.

Seeding the Future: Center for Regenerative Agriculture Receives $1 Million Gift

Looking to improve communities one at a time, Bruce Burnworth discovered Chico State's Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems—and found it worthy of a $1 million donation.

Angelica Rodriguez collects water samples along a stream in the mountains.

Multimillion-Dollar Grants Ensure Hands-On Research Continues for STEM Students

Chico State was awarded a pair of multimillion dollar grants, ensuring that STEM students in three different colleges will be able to continue receiving hands-on research opportunities with faculty.