Celebrating Dr. Mary Murdock
Oct. 23, 1947—Jan. 7, 2010
Mary C. Murdock, a leader in the field of creativity
Mary C. Murdock, Ph. D., an associate professor at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College, died Thursday in the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, N. C. She was 62.
A native of Etowah, N. C., the former Mary Duncan was an internationally known leader in defining the field of creativity, which is the ability to apply one’s imagination to develop solutions to difficult problems.
Her areas of expertise included the development of creativity curriculum; creative problem solving and sociodrama; facilitating and leading teams and organizations; the individual enhancement of creativity; and cognitive and affective skills in problem solving. She researched and published extensively in these areas and traveled the world to teach and lecture in Asia, Africa, South and Central America, Canada and the Middle East.
"Not only did she teach about creativity but she embodied the essence and spirit of creativity in terms of how she lived her life," said Gerard Puccio, director of the Buffalo State center.
In 2007, Dr. Murdock co-authored "Creative Leadership: Skills That Drive Change," with Puccio and Marie Mance.
She founded the Buffalo Chapter of the American Creativity Association, was a leader in the Creativity Division of the National Association of Gifted Children and a Creative Education Foundation colleague.
Born in 1947, Dr. Murdock graduated from West Henderson High School in Hendersonville, N. C., and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1970 with a degree in English and a minor in teaching. She studied under creativity pioneer E. Paul Torrance at the University of Georgia Torrance Center, where she earned a master’s degree in education, majoring in gifted education in 1983, and a doctorate in educational psychology in 1986.
Dr. Murdock joined the Buffalo State faculty in the late 1980s.
Friends and colleagues admired her sense of curiousity, love of creative process and keen intellect, said Puccio.
"Mary’s creative spirit will endure through her many publications and the work of her students around the world," he said.
She enjoyed gardening, theater, music, travel, reading, University of North Carolina Tar Heel basketball and having a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with friends and loved ones.
Survivors include a sister, Jackie Gordon.
—Joseph Popiolkowski - Article taken from the Buffalo News Paper
To donate to Dr. Mary C. Murdock scholarship fund:
https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/BCL/onlinegiving/showGivingForm.jsp?form_id=6755
Donations can also be mailed to:
BSC Foundation Accounting, GC417
Att: Mary Murdock Scholarship Fund / Cleveland Hall
Buffalo State College / 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222
In Memory: