Gwendolyn Murray, PhD

Assistant Professor of Research

Contact
gmurray1@lsu.edu
225-578-7515
Curriculum Vitae

Education
Bachelor's Degree: Government, Portuguese, Smith College, 2004
Master's Degree: Latin American Studies, Tulane University, 2010; MEd Curriculum & Instruction: Special Education, Ģą˝tv, 2027 (anticipated)
PhD: Latin American Studies, Tulane University, 2017

Photo of Gwendolyn Murray

Dr. Gwendolyn Murray is a multidisciplinary applied researcher whose work blends art and science to strengthen systems, organizations, and communities. As an Assistant Professor of Research at Ģą˝tv’s Social Research and Evaluation Center (SREC), she designs and leads mixed‑methods evaluations that integrate implementation science, empowerment evaluation, and human‑centered design. Her work focuses on improving programs, and ultimately, the people and places they serve, through approaches that are rigorous, relational, and responsive.

Dr. Murray’s background spans special education, foreign languages, education law, school climate and culture, trauma‑informed practice, and multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS). She brings this practitioner‑researcher lens to statewide and national education initiatives, translating complex data into tools educators and leaders can use immediately. Her has been adopted across Louisiana and downloaded internationally by users in 39 countries. She also created to decrease exclusionary discipline and cultivate safe and supportive learning environments.

In 2024, Dr. Murray was invited to the to join governors, state chiefs, and national leaders in addressing chronic absenteeism. Her work continues to shape Louisiana’s approach to student engagement, belonging, and school climate, and she is a frequent presenter at Louisiana Department of Education conferences.

Beyond her education‑focused portfolio, Dr. Murray applies her multidisciplinary evaluation expertise to high‑rigor program evaluations for the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), and most recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).

Across these projects, she designs and implements mixed‑methods evaluation systems that examine organizational readiness, cross‑sector collaboration, technical integration, and system‑level outcomes. Her work supports decision-makers in understanding whether complex initiatives are functioning as intended, and how they can be strengthened to generate greater value for individuals and communities.

Although her primary role is research and evaluation, Dr. Murray teaches in Ģą˝tv’s Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, where she developed two original courses about Brazil for the Ģą˝tv catalog. These courses create opportunities for critical thinking, cross‑cultural analysis, and global learning, drawing on Dr. Murray’s training in Latin American Studies and her long‑term engagement with Brazilian culture, politics, and media.

Mixed Methods Research
Implementation Science & Continuous Improvement
Empowerment Evaluation
School Climate, Culture, and Discipline
Trauma-informed Teaching
Chronic Absenteeism & Student Engagement
Comparative and International Education
Portuguese
Spanish

Evaluating the Gulf Offshore Research Institute (GORI) Gulf Futures Challenge Program
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine | Co-Principal Investigator | 2026–2027 | $198,889
Dr. Murray serves as co-principal investigator on the evaluation of the Gulf Offshore Research Institute Gulf Futures Challenge Program.

Safer Offshore Energy Systems (SOES) Evaluation
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine | Co-Principal Investigator | 2026–2027 | $198,361
Dr. Murray serves as co-principal investigator on the evaluation of the Safer Offshore Energy Systems program.

Louisiana DWI Court Capacity-Building Collaborative
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission | Co-Principal Investigator | 2026–2027 | $100,000
Dr. Murray serves as co-principal investigator on the Louisiana DWI Court Capacity-Building Collaborative.

RISE: A High School Behavioral Health Wellness and Career Club
Louisiana Department of Health | Project Lead | 2026–2027 | $50,000
Dr. Murray serves as the project lead for RISE, a high school behavioral health, wellness, and career club developed through the Louisiana Department of Health's Behavioral Health Research & Evaluation Project.

State Opioid Response 4.0
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Co-Principal Investigator | 2024–2027 | $18,001,460
Dr. Murray serves as co-principal investigator on Louisiana’s State Opioid Response 4.0 initiative.

Project AWARE: Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Co-Principal Investigator | 2021–2026 | $533,000 per year 
Dr. Murray serves as co-principal investigator on Project AWARE, an initiative focused on advancing wellness and resiliency in education.

Murray, G., All, K., and Robison, S. (2026). From Knowing to Doing: Hub and Spoke Implementation Readiness, Understanding, and Needs Identified in the Louisiana Hub and Spoke Model Training Series (April–June 2026). Ģą˝tv Social Research and Evaluation Center. 

Murray, G., All, K., Robison, S., and Harrell, S. (2026). From Model to Momentum: Early Findings from Louisiana’s Hub and Spoke State Opioid Response Training. Ģą˝tv Social Research and Evaluation Center. 

Murray, G. (2024). Improving School Discipline, Climate & Culture: Interactive Guidance for Schools and Districts. Social Research and Evaluation Center at the Ģą˝tv College of Human Sciences and Education.

Do, B., Plant, M., Murray, G., & Rhodes, J. (2023). Workforce Development Training Plans Focused on a Comprehensive School Mental Health System: A Guidance Document for Districts. Social Research and Evaluation Center at the Ģą˝tv College of Human Sciences and Education. Submitted to the Louisiana State Department of Education.

Do, B., Blyth, G., Plant, M., Murray, G., & Rhodes, J. (2023). Alternative Education Transition Plan Workbook. Social Research and Evaluation Center at the Ģą˝tv College of Human Sciences and Education. Submitted to the Louisiana State Department of Education. 

Murray, G., Picardo, R., Thomas-Smith, J., and Rhodes, J. (2022). Improving Student Attendance: An action planning workbook to address chronic absenteeism and the needs of students and families through multi-tiered systems of support. Social Research and Evaluation Center at the Ģą˝tv College of Human Sciences and Education. 

Murray, G. (2026). “From Student Engagement to Student Ownership of Learning: Evidence-based Teaching Practices to Improve Student Performance and Manage Your Classroom.” Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit 2026. New Orleans, LA, May 26-28, 2026.

Murray, G. (2025). “Beyond Discipline: Developing a Plan to Support Positive Behaviors and Keep Kids in Classrooms.” The 2025 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health. Conference of the National Center for School Mental Health. Orlando, FL, December 2025. 

Murray, G. (2025). “Determining the Root and Making the Plan: Assessing Needs and Existing Strengths to Map School-based Attendance Interventions.” Louisiana Families in Need of Services (FINS) Association Conference. Lafayette, LA, April 30-May 2, 2025. 

Murray, G. (2024). “The Proactive and Positive Classroom: Supporting Student Learning through Tier 1 Teaching.” The 2024 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health. Conference of the National Center for School Mental Health. Orlando, FL, December 2024. 

Murray, G. (2024). “Connecting Climate to Capabilities: Aligning to NIET.” Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit 2024. New Orleans, LA, May 28-30, 2024.

Special Education Teacher of the Year, ReNEW Charter Management Organization: 2015

William J. Griffith Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Tulane University: 2011

Cowen Fellow, Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives, Tulane University: 2010

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, U.S. Department of Education: 2008-2010

Gwen is a Seattle native and a fan of many of the things associated with her hometown, including coffee, flannel, rock music, and tattoos. She has one exceptional son, a loving but cowardly dog, and two spoiled cats. When not at work, she can be found on the pickleball court, watching horror movies, reading nonfiction, or playing New York Times puzzles and crosswords. She loves parades and music festivals and has been known to travel to watch women’s basketball at all levels.