From Dawn to Dusk: Day in the Life of Head of School Murray

          Everyone at Lawrenceville knows him—Steve Murray H ’54’  55’ 63’ 65’ 16’ P’16’22. No one else can imagine taking on the role of Head of School quite like he does. 

          Describing his role as “half being the mayor of a small town,” and “half like running a mid-sized company with 400 employees,” Murray sees being Head of School as a position that pushes him to both “be available…and take care of business.” As he puts it, the latter half of his job description also means “being true to the educational mission…at the heart of the School.”

          Murray’s typical day starts earlier than most Lawrentians, even on a Monday when classes begin at 8:00 AM. From answering emails to frequenting Big Red Community Swim, his mornings are focused on “keeping in touch with people.” Following these morning tasks, the bulk of his day is “involved in meetings” to “stay informed about what is going on around campus.” Often with the Head of Houses or Senior Staff Team, Murray prioritizes “making sure [he is] available to them.” 

          Another part of his day is taking care of longer term projects, such as the current Tsai Field House construction. From fundraising to design, many plans need his support and approval, as Murray, a figurehead for the school, ultimately needs to “take responsibility for decisions.” To Murray, he thinks it is crucial to be “visible.” Reverting back to Lawrenceville athletics, whether Murray is “giving pointers to the Varsity Water Polo team” or “trying not to get a penalty on the sidelines of a volleyball game,” Murray feels “incredibly lucky…that it is part of [his] job to be [there] and be connected to students.” 

          While most of Murray’s day is spent in meetings, he concludes that no two days are alike. As he puts it, his genuine belief in Lawrenceville’s offering of  “opportunity to really talented, interesting young people who have great heart and soul” fuels his passion for his job. 

          If there was a competition for the longest to-do-list on campus, Murray would surely rank highly. With so much to do in so little time, he accredits his assistant, Maria Mangione, for “keeping [him] organized…and [his] schedule set.” Murray also finds motivation from external resources, such as serving on a number Trustee Boards, which he finds “good professional development for [him],” as well as “a good way of representing Lawrenceville a little more publicly.”

          To a Lawrentian, it may appear that the Head of School’s perspective on campus issues differs greatly from theirs as a student, and find it difficult to “know quite what it’s like to be in [his] shoes.” Murray doesn’t seem to think so. From sharing “day-to-day rhythms of the school,” he sees everyone as “part of the community,” and thus “views things through a similar lens.” Even so, as an important figure on campus, he hopes that “people trust that [he is] doing [his] best” to lead Lawrenceville. From Murray’s presence on athletic grounds to advising community pursuits, it is clear that he “[loves] the community…[and] the student body…and [feels] lucky to be here.”