QCC’s 50 Guardians, Alumni Making a Difference: Tammy Murray
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Ten Guardians from all manner of occupation and walks of life have already been announced, including this week's profile, Tammy Murray, Registered Occupational Therapist at Worcester Public Schools. GoLocalWorcester will profile a Guardian every week, celebrating each of these 50 extraordinary individuals.
Find out more about Tammy—plus how to nominate a Guardian—below.
Tammy Murray: Registered Occupational Therapist at Worcester Public Schools
Tammy Murray graduated from South High School with few financial resources and the understanding that a college degree could open doors. When her guidance counselor discovered that Quinsigamond Community College offered an occupational therapy program at an affordable price, Murray’s path was clear.
“For the first time, I loved school and became really excited about learning,” she said. Murray said the late Nancy Ohan set the stage for her success at QCC. “Nancy’s kind nature helped build my confidence as a young college student. She provided me with an exceptional introduction to the field of occupational therapy,” she said. “When I received my degree from QCC in 1992, not only was I the first person in my family to earn a college degree, but more important, I had found a career pathway.”
Murray, a registered occupational therapist at Worcester Public Schools, was recently named an Alumni Guardian by Quinsigamond Community College, for her service to the community and the college. To help celebrate QCC’s 50th anniversary, the college is naming 50 guardians who have made a difference in their lives and the lives of those around them.
The first 10 guardians were announced earlier this fall, and now QCC is seeking nominations from the community. Read more about the Guardians and find out how to nominate someone at www.qcc.edu/guardians
After graduation, Murray worked at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island and Prism Healthcare before joining the team at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in 1993. For the last 15 years, she has worked in the public school system. She became an adjunct faculty member at Assumption College in 2009.
Receiving a degree from QCC whetted her academic appetite; she earned a Bachelor of Science from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1997. Hungry for more, Tammy earned her master’s from Cambridge College in 2007 and achieved the pinnacle when she received her doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in 2012.
Quinsigamond Community College was the starting point for her. “The college was my first higher education opportunity. It’s where I received a solid academic foundation through small class sizes, individualized attention and academic supports,” she said, noting the challenges she overcame along the way. “At QCC, students gain the relevant skills that will allow them upward economic and educational mobility with jobs and careers that are valued and needed in the region.”
In the community, Murray co-chairs the site council at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, serves on the regional advisory council for UMass Children’s Medical Center and is a trustee at the Seven Hills Foundation.
Guardians should be people who have attended QCC or been involved with the college, and been transformed by their experience. It may have led them to further education, involvement in the community, or entrepreneurship.
The guardians represent the spirit of the College’s mythological mascot, the Wyvern, who was the guardian protector of our sister city, Worcester, England. Staff, faculty, and friends of Quinsigamond Community College also may be considered for this award provided they meet the eligibility guidelines. A selection committee will review nominations and choose guardians.
To nominate a guardian, go to www.qcc.edu/guardians and fill out the form provided. Watch for announcements on Twitter at twitter.com/50Guardians and Facebook at www.facebook.com/50Guardians
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