Jim McKenna is the newly appointed Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Since earning his Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Jim has served in a variety of academic and federal agency positions. Academic appointments include Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Williams College where he taught and served as Associate Director for the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program; Professor of Marine Biology and Chair of the Ocean Studies department at Maine Maritime Academy; and Associate Dean for the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics at Bridgewater State University. Jim’s agency work includes serving as a National Park Service Research Learning Center coordinator in Acadia National Park and as Associate Director of Research for the Maine Sea Grant Program. Jim’s interest in the marine world extends into his personal life; he is a passionate sailor and enjoys vacationing with his wife and two children along the coast of Maine and Cape Cod.
Lauren Murphy was a four year member of the Buccaneer women's soccer program from 2010 to 2013. In her time in a Buccaneer uniform, coach Murphy scored 18 career goals, leading the Bucs in goals scored in her freshman (4) and senior (9) seasons. Of those 18 career goals, five were game winners, including three in her senior season. In her final year at Maritime she was named Captain of the team.
Murphy graduated in the Spring of 2014 with her Bachelor's Degree in Marine Transportation. Following graduation, she shipped out with the Master Mates and Pilots Union, of which she is a member.
Prior to coaching, Lauren was a player on the Olympic Development Program for both the state of Massachusetts and the North East Region. She played club level soccer where her team was finalist for the state cup 3 times. During her senior year of high school, she led her team to a Bay State Games Championship.
After four years on the ocean, Lauren has decided to come back and find a job shoreside and work with the program she dedicated so much time to as a Cadet at the Academy.
