Alumni Spotlight: Chelsea Lynn Murry
December 9, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Chelsea Lynn Murry, who will graduate in May 2025 with a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction and an EdS in Education Leadership and Research from the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, exemplifies resilience, tenacity, and the transformative power of education.
The Journey to LSU
Chelsea’s academic journey began at Southern University and A&M College, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education (Voice) and a master’s in educational leadership K-12. She also holds a graduate certificate in Instructional Coaching from Louisiana State University. Reflecting on her decision to pursue higher education, Chelsea shared, “What inspired me to pursue higher education was the simple fact that someone told me I couldn’t and wouldn’t. I was born a rebel; therefore, I believe pursuing obstacles takes a certain level of resilience, tenacity, pride, courage, and unwavering faith when losing is not an option.”
Academic Achievements and Inspirations
Chelsea’s dedication to scholarship culminated in her award-winning paper, “Am I Truly My Mother’s Daughter? An Autoethnography Study of Identity and Educational Legacy,” which earned the 2024 Journal of Curriculum Theorizing (JCT) Conference Graduate Student Paper Award. Her paper will be published in the upcoming edition of the Journal of Curriculum Theorizing.
Her inspiration for this work emerged during a sabbatical from K-12 teaching. Chelsea spent her mornings at the East Baton Rouge Public Library's Goodwood Branch, reflecting on her identity and educational journey. She described this time as pivotal, saying, “Leaving the classroom felt like losing a part of myself—one that had taken immense grit to develop, especially through challenges like passing the rigorous Praxis exams.”
During this period of self-discovery, Chelsea encountered Theodorea Regina Berry’s article, "Me and Bill: Connecting Black Curriculum Orientations to Critical Race Feminism." The piece reminded her of her mother, Michelle Wanda White-Murry, whose resilience and determination inspired her deeply. Michelle graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in her 50s, decades after leaving college in the 1970s. Chelsea’s mother’s story, rooted in courage and faith, embodied the Sankofa principle—to “go back and get it” - mirrored Chelsea’s journey to reconnect with her purpose and identity.
Advice for Aspiring Scholars
Chelsea emphasized the importance of overcoming fear when asked for advice by those interested in participating in the Curriculum Theory Conference. “Do not allow fear to fragment your future. You never know who your work might set free, and it could very well be yourself,” she said. Reflecting on her preparation for the conference, she shared, “I wrote a lot, read a lot, hyperventilated, went shopping, sat in the hotel room the day before editing the presentation, bought random stuff on Amazon, then grabbed some wine and watched TV. At some point, you must say, ‘It is well,’ then close your laptop.”
Overcoming Grief and Finding Balance
Balancing academic and personal life has not been without challenges. Chelsea described her experience with one word: grief. Her twin brother, Chad Michael, passed away at 27 following surgery for complications related to kidney disease and Prune Belly Syndrome. “The only reason he was having the surgery was to change the way he had been forced to live,” she explained. Chad’s resilience inspired Chelsea to pursue her academic goals while honoring life’s joys. “Life is far too short not to live it,” she stated.
Traveling with her books, binder of articles, iPad, and laptop became a way to merge her academic pursuits with personal fulfillment. She refused to let academia hinder her joy or let her joy distract from her goals, embodying the balance Chad’s life inspired her to achieve.
Acknowledgments and Final Thoughts
Chelsea credits her academic success to the support and mentorship of many individuals, including the late Professor Charles Lloyd Jr., Professor Jacqueline Paige-Green, Molly Quinn, PhD, Dean Roland Mitchell, Richard Baker Jr., PhD, and Judy Guilbeaux-James, PhD. “All these individuals worked together to allow me space to relearn who I am, challenged my thoughts and ideas, and ensured my mistakes were not the final answer,” she said.
Chelsea offers this advice for current and future LSU Tigers: “The great philosopher Erykah Badu once said, ‘Write it down on real paper with a real pencil with real intent and watch it get real. Spelling is a spell.’ As the Biblical text in Habakkuk 2:2-3 states, ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. The vision still awaits its appointed time…’ Write yourself free every chance you get!”
About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE)
A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, the SOE offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teacher or acquire dual certification in traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also on preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes in scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.
Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college comprises the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools: the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, which enrolls birth to age four, and the University Laboratory School, which enrolls kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and the Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and improving quality of life across the lifespan.