Audrey Murrell named acting dean of Honors College

Audrey J. Murrell, associate dean of the College of Business Administration, has been named the acting dean of the University Honors College effective June 17, according to a statement from Provost Ann Cudd.

She replaces Brian Primack, who left unexpectedly last month to become the dean of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions. He had been in the position since 2017. A search for a full-time replacement will happen at a later date.

Murrell is a professor in business administration and holds secondary appointments in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and in Pitt’s Psychology Department. She also has served as director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership. No replacement has been named for Murrell in the College of Business Administration.

The college has been highlighting some of the advances during Murrell’s tenure as associate dean, which she started in 2013, on its Facebook page, including expanded study areas in Sennott Square, a Mentoring Match Program, the Bruce Hall Business living learning community and Pitt Business’ first Office of International Programs and Global Business Institute. 

Her research, teaching and consulting work focuses on building the capacity of people and organizations, with special emphasis on enhancing outcomes for women.  This includes topics such as mentoring, breaking the “glass ceiling,” diversity and workplace discrimination.  Murrell consults and is published in the areas of mentoring, diversity, ethical leadership development and social responsibility in organizations. 

Murrell has received numerous recognitions both on and off campus. At Pitt, she has received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Public and Community Service Award, the Provost’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion in the Curriculum, the Student Choice Award, the H. J. Zoffer Medal for Meritorious Service from the Pitt Business Alumni Association and the Iris Marion Young Award for Political Engagement.

She also has received the Mayor's Citizen Service Award from the city of Pittsburgh, the “Daisy Lampkin” award from Celebrate & Share Inc. of Pittsburgh, the “Women of Influence” award from the Pittsburgh Business Times, the SBA Minority Business Champion of the Year Award, the “Women of Distinction” award from the Girls Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Susan B. Anthony “Women of Vision” award from the Women’s Leadership Assembly, the Community Service Award from the Pennsylvania Job Corps Association, and the Community Champion Award from the United Way of Allegheny County.

She has been awarded numerous research grants, including from the National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, H.J. Heinz Endowments, Maurice Falk Foundation, Institute for Industrial Competitiveness, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Pitt’s University Center for Social and Urban Research, and the American Association of University Women.

Murrell currently serves on the board of the Women and Girls Foundation, the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and as the board chair of Food21 of Pennsylvania.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University, magna cum laude, and her masters and doctorate from the University of Delaware.