(Photo submitted by the Murphy family)
Millennial couple endows fund to sustain Carolina College Advising Corps
By Audrey Smith
UNC-Chapel Hill alumni Kevin ’07 and Elizabeth ’07 Murphy recently established an endowment to support the Carolina College Advising Corps.
Before coming to Carolina, the Murphys both attended affluent, suburban public high schools, where counselors regularly peppered them with information about how to apply to college and complete FAFSA forms. But they know those resources that helped them get to UNC don’t exist in all high schools, and they are passionate about helping more students across the state have access to the same opportunities to build their futures.
Building futures across North Carolina
Carolina College Advising Corps has well-trained advisors placed in 81 high schools across 34 counties throughout North Carolina. Advisors help students identify opportunities that best match their aspirations. They do this through one-on-one and group post-secondary advising and by leading campus visits, career exploration activities and planning sessions that prepare students for college, career or military pathways.
For the Murphys this gift isn’t just about supporting individuals, though. It’s also about developing a pipeline of talented individuals coming to Carolina and other UNC System schools and launching meaningful careers throughout the state.
“We believe it’s vital to North Carolina that young people throughout our state are equipped to do something challenging with their lives after high school,” said Elizabeth Murphy. “Whether it be college, community college or gaining valuable work skills, we’re excited about the ways that Carolina College Advising Corps helps students across the state go on to thrive in life, which, in turn, helps their communities and the state as a whole.”
While the Carolina College Advising Corps presents opportunities to high school students, it’s also an incredible way for new college graduates serving as advisors to launch successful careers rooted in service to the state.
Kayla Humphrey served as a Carolina College Advising Corps advisor from 2011-2013 and now works as a clinical social worker with Duke Transplant Center. For Humphrey, her time as an advisor sparked her interest in social work, as she worked with the social worker at her assigned high school, and equipped her with transferable skills that would be vital in her career as a social worker.
“As an advisor I developed valuable skills in interacting with families, providing counseling, leading with empathy and thinking outside the box, which have all been important in my social work career,” said Humphrey. “As someone who grew up in an underserved, rural community, I’ve always wanted to serve North Carolina’s underserved communities. My time as a Carolina College Advising Corps advisor definitely strengthened that resolve and laid a strong foundation for the work I would go on to do as a social worker.”
The Murphys’ gift will be instrumental for Carolina College Advising Corps, as the program prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027.
“Kevin and Elizabeth Murphy’s gift will allow us to provide additional support to our advisors and introduce new programming while also taking a very important first step in financially sustaining our program in a way that is beneficial to all who serve and benefit from our work,” said Ni-Eric Perkins, director, Carolina College Advising Corps.
From immediate need to enduring support
The couple’s first gift to Carolina College Advising Corps was an expendable gift to meet immediate budgetary needs after the program lost a major grant. With funding down, the program could no longer cover many of its operating costs beyond advisor salaries, including things like catered food to make college informational sessions more accessible to students and busy parents who may be rushing to an event after work.
“The heart and soul of the Carolina College Advising Corps is their advisors and the relationships they build with parents and students, ” said Kevin Murphy. “But the program can’t fulfill its promise if it only has funds for those advisors’ salaries. We hope our gift can help prevent budget shortfalls in the future and ensure the advisors have what they need to do their important work. I fell in love with Carolina on a college tour and wanted to do our part to ensure the corps is able to continue organizing trips for high schoolers who might not otherwise get the same experience.”
At 40 years old, the Murphys are far younger than the average university donor nationwide.
“Our generation is not as good at giving to our alma maters as our parents or grandparents are. I hope our gift inspires other alumni our age to get involved,” said Elizabeth Murphy. “The University wants to listen to you and to hear what you’re passionate about. The development office is great about bringing you opportunities tailored to where you are most interested in making an impact. Just like there was a place for all of us when we started as students at Carolina, there is a place for all of us now to give back.”
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