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Dennis Murphy, a Western Washington University alumnus who served as dean of the College of Business and Economics for 25 years, addressed Western graduates and their families at the winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, March 21, in Carver Gymnasium.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Western in 1969, and a master’s in Economics the following year. He was dean of Western’s College of Business and Economics from 1982 to 2007 and twice served as Western’s provost, in 1998-99 and from 2007 to 2009. He has retired from administrative work, but Murphy continues to teach several courses a year in Economics and Finance. He also serves on the board of directors of Saturna Capital, on Saturna’s council of economic advisers, and on the board of St. Paul’s Academy. He has been a participant in the US Bank Economic Forum for about 20 years. He is past chairman of the board of Cascade Financial Corp. and Cascade Bank as well as past-president of the United Way of Whatcom County and the Rotary Club of Bellingham.