KERRY MURPHY HEALEY
Lieutenant Governor, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Degrees: A.B. Harvard ‘82, Ph.D.’91 Trinity College, (Dublin).
Harvard–related activities: Freshman Crew (1978-79); South House Crew (1979-82); Theater Productions (1979-82); Schools Committee, Harvard Club of New York City (1987-95).
Achievements and Honors: Council on Foreign Relations (elected 2005); US Interagency Council on Homelessness “A Home for Every American” Award (May 2006); Women’s National Republican Club Award for Outstanding Contributions to Government and Community (2004); YWCA Boston Woman of the Decade (2004); Boys and Girls Club New England Women’s Leadership Award (2004); The ALLY Foundation Award (2005), for strengthening sex offender laws.
Major Charitable or Other Activities: My major charitable commitment has been to the work of the YWCA on women’s health, economic and safety issues. I served on the board of the YWCA of NYC, YWCA of the USA World Service Council, and represented the World YWCA at the United Nations. I also served as Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery (9-11 Memorial).
Greatest Personal Rewards and/or Reflections on Harvard: I never imagined that I would put any of the esoteric knowledge I gained at Harvard to use, but my time in government proved me wrong. In 2003, putting together a budget amidst a deep recession suddenly conjured the debates in Sandel’s “Justice” class, Schelling’s “Public Policy Economics” lectures, and the lessons in social justice taught by Dr. Coles. Suddenly, my Harvard education began to pay off as I sought to balance investment in the state’s future with the citizens’ current pressing needs and the interests of workers with the need to nurture job-creating industries. I also met courageous and inspirational people who had lost a loved one to sex offenders or drunk drivers. I was honored to work with these incredible advocates to strengthen sex offender laws in Massachusetts, and to extend our statute of limitations for rape, so that child victims could come forward to seek justice. My most moving experience was the fight to reform our drunk driving laws. After a 13 year old girl, Melanie Powell, was killed by a repeat drunk driver, I joined forces with her family to keep repeat offenders off the road. After a long and bitter legislative battle, Melanie’s Bill passed in late 2005. Since then, there has been a 20% decline in drunk driving fatalities. Being Lieutenant Governor, and campaigning for Governor, has reconfirmed for me the importance of public service. At our final debate, I noted that three of the four candidates for Governor had been Harvard undergraduates, and that while we had disparate political views, our common sense of commitment to public service and social change had undoubtedly been nurtured in Harvard Yard. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve and will continue to look for ways to push for positive change. I am also blessed to have a wonderful family, my husband, Sean Healey (’83), with whom I have just celebrated my 22nd anniversary, and my children, Alex (14) and Averill (12).