Ann Mooney Murphy had already begun her career in auditing and consulting at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) when she realized she wanted a change. She found herself thinking about past activities — like high school tutoring and assisting in corporate training. Teaching and mentoring, Murphy discerned, had always been “what lights me up.”  

Murphy returned to school, earned a doctorate in strategic management at the University of Georgia and joined the Stevens faculty in 2001. Now an associate professor in the School of Business, she teaches undergraduate courses like Senior Design and graduate-level Strategic Management and Leadership. While serving as associate dean from 2010 to 2019, she helped transform the School of Technology Management into the School of Business and led the launch of six new undergraduate majors and seven new minors.  

Along the way, mentoring has always been her priority. Mentoring new faculty is an established practice in the School of Business, and Murphy usually advises three or four faculty mentees, meeting with them several times a year to help chart their path. “I might have suggestions about submitting or revising an article for publication,” she says. “And I’ve always told them that I can be their ‘bad cop’ in fighting to help protect their research time. 

“I want them to do well and make tenure. That’s the goal.”  

Murphy also works closely with students, but her mentorship of Jim Marsh M.S. ’07 is one she characterizes as “non-traditional.”  

Like Murphy, Marsh, based in Readington Township, New Jersey, and currently president/CEO of TÜV SÜD Global Risk Consultants — which partners with clients to assess, quantify and mitigate property-related risks — already had an established career when he returned to school. After accepting a new management position, he felt the need to bolster his skill set, so he enrolled in Stevens’ graduate Management program. Marsh approached Murphy about mentoring him after taking her Strategic Management class. “Earlier in my career, I saw where mentors could help you look around corners, round out areas where you were deficient, and help open doors,” says Marsh.  

“Ann is focused, determined, driven. She’s very good at what she does.”  

That initial mentorship has evolved into friendship and what Murphy characterizes professionally as “a collaborative relationship.”  

Murphy has interviewed Marsh for her research, and she put his name forward for the School of Business’ Board of Advisors, where he has since served for 10 years. Marsh, in turn, has been a frequent guest speaker in Murphy’s classes. The two still manage to have lunch occasionally. 

“We help each other out as needed,” she explains. “When I was making strategic decisions about new undergraduate majors, Jim was my go-to person for advice.”  

“Ann has been a great sounding board since I became CEO,” says Marsh. “Her suggestions helped a lot, and I was grateful to have a trusted friend and advisor in that journey.” 

— Mary Zajac