Learning is Loving!
Herstory
Nicole “Nic” Murphy is an equitable communications strategist passionate about making the world accessible to gender minorities. Nicole is the first Black woman to win the National debate tournament and uses her debating skills to understand all sides of an issue to implement sustainable solutions strategically.
She aims to create accessible learning practices that inspire others to expand their thought process. She believes that education is the missing link to kindness. If we can unlearn our biases and misconceptions about others, the world will be inclusive.
Her motto is Learning is Loving!
The Beginning
Nic grew up in Ferguson, Missouri, during the spark of the Black Lives Matter movement. Nic grew up with a deep passion for equity and helping the community around her.
Her earliest memories were mowing lawns for the elders of her grandparent's church, where she was taught the ethic of love and care for people. With a Deaf grandmother, Nic understood the importance of making the world accessible; assisting with day-to-day adult tasks taught her independence and how to build community.
At 14 years old, Nic attended Northwest Academy of Law, where her passion for justice ignited. Nicole participated on the debate team, mock trial team, and student council. She fell in love with policy debate and the power she found in using her voice.
During high school, she was selected to participate in the St.Louis internship program (SLIP) as a law intern at the St.Louis County Courthouse, where she began to explore the legal system.
Academic Journey
During her undergraduate studies, she served as the Executive Director of the Women’s Debate Institute, where she performed anti-harassment training for Learning Leaders Shanghai in Shanghai, China.
In 2019, she joined Baylor University’s BIC Honors College as a graduate assistant in Communications. As a graduate assistant, Nicole participated in the Japanese-American debates and consulted as an assistant publicist for a Savage X Fenty campaign.
While receiving her Master's in Communication (Rhetoric), Nicole knew she was dedicated to creating a sustainable world, so she began working with community-based organizations focused on food insecurity.
Including Global Revival in Waco, TX, and Black Market in Louisville, KY, and others, all in hopes of teaching Black and Brown communities ways to find affordable and nutritious food sourced by local Black farmers.
Becoming a Champion
Her passion eventually led her to Rutgers University Newark, where she received her bachelor's in public administration and nonprofit administration and African-American/ Afrikanna studies.
In 2017, Nic became the first Black woman to win the National Debate Tournament, arguing the resolution question:
"Resolved: The United States Federal Government should establish a domestic climate policy, including at least substantially increasing restrictions on private sector emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States."
Her victory exposed the discrimination inside of debate and ignited others to challenge the structure of policy debate and exclusionary practices. In 2022, Nicole created a legacy by coaching the 2022 NDT & CEDA Champions from Wake Forest University