Alumni Spotlight: Rawnette Murray

Staff Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Labor
Arlington, Va.

How has your Eberly degree contributed to your professional career?
As an undergraduate, I was on a career path geared toward the field of medicine. I earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1993 under a competitive Storer Scholarship, and completed two years at WVU’s School of Medicine as a recipient of the W.E.B. DuBois Fellowship.

But like many, my path took an unexpected turn and I used the research and organizational skills I gained from a broad-based Eberly education and applied it to a career in civil service. Today, I’m staff assistant to the chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Labor, where I work along-side presidential appointees and senior-level executives.

I like to tell people that I push the paper that keeps the government wheel turning. By planning and coordinating the administrative work of the Chief of Staff, I have a unique bird’s eye view of how the government functions.

Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Labor in 2004 as secretary in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM), I worked as staff assistant for Systems Plus, Incorporated, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the LTS Corporation.

What do you feel is the value of a liberal arts and sciences education?
The value of a liberal arts and sciences education is the versatility that it provides as I easily made a career shift from medicine to government. I was able to hone my critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills – especially my writing abilities – through exposure to the variety of courses that I took in the humanities, mathematics, and natural, social, and behavioral sciences.

Thanks to the Eberly College’s well-rounded approach to learning, I discovered how to think creatively, write and speak clearly, discuss and debate complex issues, work in a team and quickly adapt to changes which transferred well into my government career that is never the same one day to the next.

What advice would you give to a future student?
I advise students to take advantage of the many opportunities afforded to you at WVU, and don’t be afraid to branch out and broaden both your academic and social horizons. I’m also a big advocate of giving back to the University, and suggest joining the WVU Alumni Association. I’m a member of the Eberly Advisory Board, and I feel a special sense of pride representing both my hometown and my alma mater in such a distinguished capacity.