Anna Murphy earned a biology degree from Kalamazoo College and was a four-year letterwinner for the women’s soccer team. After finishing her academic and athletic pursuits at Kalamazoo, Murphy plans to continue her education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She will be pursuing a PhD through Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine Integrated Graduate Program, focusing on neuroscience or physiology.
“As a K student-athlete, I formed lifelong friendships with my teammates,” said Murphy. “The women’s soccer team was like a family, providing a community of camaraderie, competition, and support. I am grateful for the opportunity to play the sport I love with such amazing people.”
Throughout her career as an end-to-end midfielder, Murphy contributed both defensively and offensively, scoring three goals and two assists this past season. Over the course of four seasons, she played in 53 games with 42 starts, tallying five goals and five assists. Murphy is a four-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll member and a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
Reflecting on her academic experience at Kalamazoo, Murphy credited the biology department and Dr. Blaine Moore for guiding her towards her post-graduate opportunities. She completed summer fellowships at Wayne State’s School of Medicine and conducted research on neurological control of blood pressure in rats. Additionally, Murphy studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, to immerse herself in the culture and language.
When asked about her advice for prospective Kalamazoo College recruits, Murphy emphasized the importance of passion for the sport and highlighted the supportive community that extends beyond athletics. She expressed gratitude towards Dr. Blaine Moore for his role in fostering her interest in neuroscience and helping her with graduate school applications.
