Althea Cawley Murphree (BS Geology, 2001)

After graduating from Central and the William O. Douglas Honors College with a BS in geology and BA in political science, I completed my masters in public administration at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. I originally intended to make a career in environmental policy, perhaps working on water issues or hazards mitigation, but life had other plans.

After working in state and local government and for a nonprofit organization, I joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. Diplomacy blends my interests in policy, communications, and travel, while constantly providing new opportunities and challenges. My first assignment was in Abuja, Nigeria. Eastern Europe has always interested me, so I next served in Vilnius, Lithuania, and am now in Tbilisi, Georgia, where I am enjoying all the food, wine, and history of the caucuses, along with the occasional earthquake.

I don't get a chance to practice geology very often. I do, however, use a lot of the skills I was taught in Central's geology program. Studying geology forces you to find global significance in the smallest details and understand how multiple forces interact. The ability to see the world that way definitely is important in any career. I also appreciate the strong study skills I learned in the Geology program as I am learning new languages now as an adult.