What do a ski-loving finance pro and a baseball historian with a pittie named Ruby Bader Ginsburg have in common? They both believe deeply in the power of education, and they’re using their time and talents to help first-generation students thrive through Green Halo Scholars.
This month, we’re excited to shine a light on two of our incredible board members: Mike Murphy and Mary O’Malley. We even had them dig up some photos from their own college days because the path from “back then” to “board member” is worth celebrating.
Mike Murphy: Giving Back, On and Off the Slopes
Mike’s passion for expanding access to higher education goes way back. As a college sophomore, he received a small scholarship from alumni who had come together to help future students. “They were still doing that 40 years after graduation,” he shared. “I thought that was just terrific and have been active in helping new students ever since.”
After retiring from a long career in finance, Mike taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois for five years and co-founded a small company along the way. He brings that experience and a deep appreciation for what makes student programs work (or not) to his role on the Green Halo board.
When he’s not talking college majors and career pathways with scholars, Mike’s likely out skiing in the Colorado mountains with his wife Dayna (who’s also part of Green Halo’s college success program!). He even volunteers with an adaptive skiing program, teaching athletes with mental and physical challenges how to enjoy the slopes.
His advice for first-gen students? “You have proven your ability to succeed in school without much of the built-in support network of many of your classmates. That makes you stronger than you think for when you start out more independently in college.”
Mary O’Malley: Storytelling, Strategy, and Showing Up
For Mary, joining the Green Halo board came from seeing what happens when students don’t have the kind of support Green Halo offers. “It’s not just about logistics or deadlines—it’s about language, access, and belonging,” she said. “When I learned what Green Halo was doing, I thought: this is the kind of organization that actually lives its mission.”
Mary wears a lot of hats: college counselor, writer, reader, Substack creator, dog mom, and proud Momo to her nieces, nephews, and cousins. She’s also a baseball historian who once wrote her graduate thesis on Chicago White Sox founder Charles Comiskey. “Turns out, the truth is messier, more human, and a lot more interesting,” she said. “Kind of like college admissions.”
She brings a no-nonsense, heart-centered approach to the board, rooted in challenging the broader systems that fail students and advocating for meaningful change.
Her favorite way to connect? Workshops. “Give me a whiteboard, a Google Doc, and a kid who thinks they have nothing to say, and I’m in my happy place,” she said.
When asked what advice she’d offer first-gen students, Mary’s response was clear:
“You don’t have to know everything. You just have to ask the question… Curiosity is a strength, not a weakness. Also: keep your financial aid emails. All of them.”
From College Kids to Champions for Scholars
Mike and Mary’s college experiences shaped how they see the world and how they show up for today’s students. Their stories remind us that support comes in many forms: a well-timed scholarship, a tough conversation with a counselor, a workshop that unlocks a student’s voice. We’re lucky to have them on our board and even more grateful they shared a glimpse of where it all began.
