Khrisma McMurray has been a member of the Jaguar family since middle school. As an Indianapolis native, she attended IUPUI summer programs for years, and finally made the decision to officially become a Jag after attending a college fair in high school.
"What really stood out to me was that the admissions counselor actually showed me resources on campus,” McMurray said. “That really stuck with me when I made my decision, because before that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to attend IUPUI. I wanted to choose a place that would be more of a home for me. Even though I live 30 minutes away, I wanted a college experience, and I wanted to feel safe."
Choosing IUPUI has become her best decision yet. After completing an eye-opening internship through the School of Education with the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools, McMurray made the switch from being a business major to psychology. She realized that there are a lot of issues children go through and wanted to be a part of the solution.
McMurray took that passion of wanting to help others and added it to every extracurricular she has been involved in at IUPUI. As a freshman, she had many people inspire her, which jump-started her passion to be an influence on other students.
"One of the main reasons I became involved was to help other students who look like me," McMurray said."I am African American, so when I came to IUPUI, I didn’t see people who looked like me in a lot of roles. The people I did see made a big impact on my life. That is something I really appreciate looking back on."
As a member of the Regatta Steering Committee, president of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. chapter and member of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board, McMurray has made her mark in several areas of campus. Her goal has always been to be in a position of leadership in order to include her peers and ensure their voices are being heard—and she’s achieved just that.
The effect IUPUI has left on McMurray will never leave her side. She has changed for the better and wants to carry that mindset on in the years to come.
"Being on campus has helped me get used to adapting. I am a person who doesn’t like change. IUPUI is a large campus, and things are always changing. I have gotten used to being in a constant state of change and being more flexible."
Her time at IUPUI is not over just yet. As she finishes up her undergraduate degree this spring, McMurray is looking ahead to graduate school, where she will be pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in policy analysis at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
