Shirley Apple Murphy, Lakota, M.A., M.S., B.S., Psy.D. Candidate
• Cultural Psychologist
• Life Coach
• Linguist
• Indigenous Knowledge
• Creative Media
Shirley Apple Murphy, Lakota, M.A., M.S., B.S., Psy.D. Candidate
Shirley Murphy is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and an 11-year U.S. Navy veteran.
She is married to Hank Murphy, Kumeyaay, and they have lived together on the Sycuan Indian Reservation in San Diego County for the past 36 years. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are proud of their three sons, Christopher (deceased), Stephen Louis and H. Robert Murphy.
Shirley has earned a B.S. in Linguistics, a M.S. in Counseling Psychology, and a M.A. in Cultural Psychology. She is currently a Psy.D. Candidate in Cultural Psychology.
Shirley is president of Taspan Consulting Company, a company she founded to conduct research and development, and preservation of indigenous knowledge, and its application to educational curriculum, career counseling, community development, and her life coaching practice.
For more than 35 years, Shirley has demonstrated her commitment and strong advocacy for quality health care, education, and cultural sovereignty through language retention, renewal and maintenance for all Native American Indian peoples.
Mrs. Murphy has served on the faculty of SDSU and Oglala Lakota College. She also has served as a director of D-Q University at Sycuan, Kumeyaay Community College and the Sycuan Inter-Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program. She is listed in the Who’s Who Guide to Native American Indian Professionals.
With husband Hank, she was one of the founders in 1982 of a healthcare clinic that today is operated by the Southern Indian Health Council, Inc.
Mrs. Murphy currently is serving the community on the Grossmont Healthcare District board.
Mrs. Murphy received her appointment to the district board in June of 2007. The health care district oversees daily operations of the Sharp Grossmont Healthcare District board in La Mesa, California, and awards grants to serve unmet health needs in East County.
Mrs. Murphy has served on the board of Grossmont Hospital Foundation since October, 2006. The foundation helps in raising funds for the La Mesa hospital.
Shirley Murphy was awarded the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award during the Twenty Eighth 28th Annual California Conference on American Indian Education pictures photos.
