South SFV Today

With philanthropic support, Stanford University's First-Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center (FLISSC) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fourth of the university's eight community centers to receive an endowed directorship. This development is part of Stanford's broader efforts to enhance community, well-being, and belonging for its students.

The new endowment comes from alumni Kelsey (Bateman) Murphy and Bobby Murphy, both graduates of Stanford in 2010. Their gift establishes a directorship for FLISSC, which became a standalone office in 2018 after being part of the Diversity and First-Gen Office. FLISSC now joins other centers such as the Asian American Activities Center, the Black Community Services Center, and Queer Student Resources in having an endowed leadership position.

In addition to the directorship, the Murphys' contribution includes an endowed student success fund aimed at supporting first-generation and/or low-income (FLI) students. The fund will provide financial aid for undergraduate research projects and need-based scholarships.

"We are so grateful for Kelsey and Bobby’s broad support for the undergraduate experience," said Stanford University President Jonathan Levin. "Their generosity helps ensure that FLI students can participate fully in university life and have the resources to succeed."

Both Kelsey and Bobby Murphy earned their bachelor's degrees at Stanford—Kelsey in human biology and Bobby in mathematical and computational science. Bobby Murphy is currently the chief technology officer of Snap, Inc., a company he co-founded with Evan Spiegel while at Stanford. The couple has consistently supported various initiatives at Stanford over the years.

"We both value the incredible opportunities we had at Stanford," said Kelsey Murphy. "We want to help open the doors for future students to have access to those same experiences."

Approximately one in five undergraduates at Stanford is a first-generation or low-income student. FLISSC serves as a resource hub aimed at helping these students navigate unique challenges affecting their academic and leadership opportunities. The center provides orientation activities, financial support, mentorship, basic needs resources, and fosters a sense of community.

Lien Truong has been appointed as the inaugural Kelsey and Robert Murphy Director of FLISSC. "I feel honored to lead FLISSC," said Truong. "Everyone should be able to feel a sense of belonging at Stanford."

The newly established Kelsey and Robert Murphy First-Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Fund will enhance FLISSC's ability to offer funding for various student needs including hardships, academic opportunities, travel expenses, medical needs, and graduate applications.

Viviana Chuquijajas, a current student, shared her experience with FLISSC: "It is a place of shared love, compassion, and care where I have felt heard and understood."

The Murphys are also providing substantial funding for scholarships targeted at undergraduates with demonstrated financial need. Their previous efforts included creating a matching fund to encourage more donations towards scholarships.

Furthermore, undergraduates will benefit from increased opportunities for experiential learning through the creation of the Kelsey and Robert Murphy Undergraduate Research Fund. This initiative supports more than 1,200 undergraduates conducting research each year.

"Undergraduate research is one of the most rewarding activities students can undertake while at Stanford," said Brian Thomas, senior director of undergraduate research.

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