Biography

Dr. Melissa Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the School of Social Work and College of Public Health at Temple University. She holds a PhD and MSW in social work from Florida State University. Her teaching integrates her experience in clinical practice, research, and innovative teaching methods, with a particular focus on simulation and case-based learning across graduate and undergraduate social work courses.

Before joining Temple, Dr. Murphy completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare and the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine. In this role, she led the research and evaluation of a legislatively mandated initiative to embed experiential learning into social work education to strengthen students’ readiness for practice with youth and families. She also collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to address maternal mental health disparities through research, training, and clinician education. Her research centers on factors influencing social workers’ clinical judgments and treatment decisions for depression.

Prior to her academic roles, Dr. Murphy practiced as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) for eight years in behavioral health settings. She served as a qualified supervisor for licensees seeking LCSW state licensure and as a practicum supervisor for BSW and MSW students.