Cory Murray: Finding Fulfillment

Name: Cory Murray

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown & Current Town: Fayetteville, AR/Cambridge, MA

Graduation Year: 2016

Major & Minor: Community, Environment, and Development, International Development Option; Minor in Nutrition

Current Professional Title: Regional Housing Planner

Name of Employer: Cape Cod Commission

Brief Description of Your Role: The “Commission” is a branch of local government and in my role as Regional Housing Planner, I serve as a public servant and act in a semi-consultant role for the 15 towns of Cape Cod, helping them address the region’s housing crisis. Cape Cod, like many areas across the country, is severely lacking in affordable housing and needs to take quick action. Day to day, I do a lot of data collecting, research, and analysis to help towns better understand what the problem is, how to tackle their unique housing issues, engage with the public, and figure out a plan of action. I work in partnership with towns and the community to address housing instability and infrastructure. Half my job is data, and the other half is communication and being a resource for the community.

Why did you choose Penn State?

I grew up in Fayetteville, a college town in Arkansas where the University of Arkansas is. I loved the buzz and culture that came with living in a place like that. But I always knew I wanted to get out of Arkansas. I was accepted into the College of Engineering and started my college years as a biomedical engineering major. Getting into that program was a big deal for me, and I went all in on the track—until my junior year, when I switched my major to CED.

I also loved the feeling of being on a big campus. When I toured Penn State, it was the day THON had ended, and I'd never seen so many college students in such an amazing mood. The energy on campus was hard to ignore.

After the tour, my mom and I grabbed dinner at Faccia Luna just outside downtown, and we ended up chatting with a woman who had moved to State College from Missouri to attend Penn State 40 years ago—and never left. Now, she has grandkids in the area. My mom took that as a sign, and I ended up signing on as a summer school student the next day.

What inspired you to pursue your degree in Community, Environment, and Development (CED)?

Turns out, you have to be really good at chemistry to be a biomedical engineer. I really struggled in those biology and chemistry classes and just wasn't having the kind of conversations or experiences I was hoping for in college. It felt like all I was doing was taking tests—I wasn't thinking critically about the work or building the relationships I thought I would.

Luckily, I had an amazing advisor at the time (I wish I could remember her name—if you're reading this and recognize my story, thank you!). I went to her during the first semester of my junior year and told her I wanted a more people-focused career and wasn't happy with the path I was on. CED was still relatively new, but she recommended it and signed me up for an intro class.

I added the class, and after just a few sessions, I knew this was the right direction for me. The discussions were thoughtful, the topics were challenging, the students and professor were engaged—it was exciting.

I ended up dropping everything and losing a full semester of credits when I switched my major, but in the end, it was worth it. CED ended up being the perfect fit for me, and started me on a rewarding career path.

What clubs and organizations were you involved in?

I was in Delta Gamma and those girls are all still my best friends. I also spent a lot of time with my major doing tutoring and research.

How has your Penn State education and your degree in CED influenced your career?

CED was an interesting major to graduate with because, at first, it was a little hard to explain what it actually was. There are many paths to take as a CED major so I needed to work on my "pitch" of what I wanted a career in. I initially thought I'd go into corporate social responsibility, but that turned out to be a pretty niche field, and it was tough to get my foot in the door.

To give myself more time and experience, I joined AmeriCorps for a year—which is what brought me to Boston. I loved my time in AmeriCorps and would recommend it to anyone who's looking to move to a new city, give back to their community, and get experience in a new field. The program is currently suspended nationwide, but I still encourage students to investigate it if funding comes back. I honestly credit my career path about 50% to being a Penn State grad and 50% to serving in AmeriCorps.

Now, several years into my career, I can't imagine a better degree to have launched me into urban planning. CED prepared me to think critically and to work in the semi-public and semi-private space. It gave me unique skills and a story to tell. Penn State and the CED program helped me learn how to talk about my work, critically think and analyze data, feel confident in unfamiliar environments—often with people way more experienced than me—and take on challenging, unfamiliar projects. I see so many ways that CED shows up in my career today.

If you were talking to a prospective student, why would you encourage them to pursue the CED major?

I'd recommend pursuing CED if you're passionate about having a fulfilling career. It's a great major for creative people who care about making a difference. There's a lot of flexibility in the degree, and it's super workable—you can shape it around your interests. If you're into things like sustainability, government, public service, or the environment, there are valuable skills to be gained in CED. You come away with a strong foundation that can apply to a wide range of careers.

Two of the best skills I learned were how to build an argument and how to have difficult conversations. I had to give a lot of presentations and make my case both in writing and in person. Those soft skills are easy to overlook, but they really stand out after college. Being able to speak clearly, present your ideas confidently, and make a strong impression goes a long way with hiring.

As you move forward in your career, those soft skills—along with being able to work well on a team—only become more important.

What are one or two of your proudest accomplishments in which your Penn State education played a role?

The proudest I've ever been in my career was during COVID. At the time, I was working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was a period of real panic and uncertainty. I was placed on a team I wasn't originally hired for, but they needed my skills—and it turned into hardcore, around-the-clock data analysis work. It was just me and a small team of three or four others, and the work was nonstop.

Our job was to help deliver COVID relief funds to prevent people from getting evicted. People depended on the work we were doing to stay in their homes during one of the most uncertain times in recent history. It was incredibly taxing and stressful, but it was also deeply meaningful. That experience taught me a lot about resilience—and gave me a strong sense of pride in serving the public. It really solidified my desire to continue a career in public service.

Another proud moment for me was making the switch from biomedical engineering to CED. That was also a really challenging time, but it taught me how to fail forward. Without that pivot, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’m really proud of how that decision shaped my path.

What is a favorite Penn State memory?

My senior year, I lived on Barnard St. with 10 of my best girlfriends. The friendships you make at Penn State are lasting. It doesn't get much better than that.

What has been the best advice you've ever received?

You don't have to hate your job. When you're younger, there's so much pressure to chase a high-paying career—something that just sounds impressive. I'm only 31, but I've seen a lot of friends graduate with degrees they thought they were supposed to get, only to end up making tough pivots later because they hated the path they chose. And that's okay! Make that change!

Being happy in your day-to-day work is important and absolutely worth pursuing. If you're not happy in your job, make a change. You spend something like 13 years of your life working if you add it all up—don't waste that time doing something that makes you miserable.

I've chosen a career that may not come with the highest pay or the best benefits, but I truly love what I do. That long-term happiness really does matter. Don't ignore it. If your job doesn't make you feel fulfilled or like you're contributing to something bigger, it's okay to move on. It makes me happy when I see people make bold decisions to pivot and try something new—it's worth it.

What collegiate advice or professional development tip would you give to a current student?

Lean into the fact that you're a Penn Stater. It really is something special. I still keep in touch with some of my professors—and I recommend keeping those connections. It's not just helpful, it's also fun and rewarding. You never know when you'll run into another Penn Stater out in the world. It's such a great connection to have, and it can open doors in ways you wouldn't expect. Penn State has a huge network—don’t be afraid to tap into it.

Why are you proud to be a Penn State Ag Sciences alum?

Ag is the best! I'm really proud to be part of it. None of my other friends are ag grads, so I love being able to represent my college and what I learned. The community within the College of Ag was super tight-knit. It felt unique, with a lot of history behind it, and the professors were excellent—challenging, but also really supportive. I had such a great experience as a CED major in the ag college and have nothing but good things to say about my time at Penn State.