Breaking Barriers: A Conversation on Higher Education With Senator Patty Murray
A college education raises incomes, increases civic engagement, provides economic security and stability, reduces unemployment, and improves health outcomes. An educated workforce drives innovation and economic growth. And higher education enhances participation in democracy, human knowledge, scientific advancement, and support for civil and human rights. Yet wealthy students are far more likely to access and graduate from college compared to low-income students.
Underserved students often have fewer educational resources, attend lower-performing schools, have less access to guidance counselors, and face food and housing insecurity. These inequities disproportionately impact students of color. Combined with the skyrocketing cost of higher education, these factors lead to growing gaps in educational attainment.
During this conversation, Senator Patty Murray, College Success Foundation, and The Seattle Times explore what we can do to make higher education more affordable and accessible for all.
Senator Patty Murray—who chairs the Senate committee on education—discusses the challenges we face, her vision for higher education, and President Biden’s approach to education policy. Senator Murray also reviews the America’s College Promise Act and other major legislative initiatives and answers audience questions.
This event is brought to you by College Success Foundation and The Seattle Times.
Registration for this event is now closed. Watch a video recording of the event.
Questions? Please email us.
United States Senator Patty Murray
As Washington state’s senior Senator, Patty Murray has a proven track record spanning more than two decades in the United States Senate. Serving as a member of Senate Democratic leadership since 2007, Patty has established herself as a leader on education, transportation, budget issues, port security, healthcare, women, and veterans issues.
In addition to being the first female Senator from Washington state, Patty served as the first female Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee during the 112th Congress and served as the first female Chair of the Senate Budget Committee during the 113th Congress. She is currently Chairwoman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Patty was born and raised in Bothell, Washington. Her dad ran a five and dime store on Main Street, where she and her siblings all worked growing up. As a twin and one of seven children, she quickly learned the value of a strong work ethic and a country that supports those who fall on hard times when her father fell ill when she was 15. Patty’s father—a World War II veteran and a Purple Heart recipient—was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and in a few short years, his illness got so bad he couldn’t work anymore. Patty’s mother, who had stayed home to raise their family, had to take care of him while also working to support their family. She found some work, but it didn’t pay enough to support Patty and her six brothers and sisters—and a husband with growing medical bills.
Patty’s family received some help from the VA for their father’s medical care, but for several months her family had to rely on food stamps. Through a program established by the federal government, Patty’s mother was able to go back to school in order to find a better paying job. Patty and her siblings were also able to attend college with the help of federal grants and students loans. While attending Washington State University, Patty took an internship in the psychiatric ward of the Seattle VA. It was there she personally witnessed the sacrifices of young Vietnam War veterans.
Never planning to enter politics, in the 1980s a state politician told her she “couldn’t make a difference” when she went to Olympia as a parent to advocate for a local preschool program targeted by state budget cuts. Patty responded by organizing a grassroots coalition of 13,000 parents that fought successfully to save the program. Patty went on to serve on the Shoreline School Board, and in 1988 she was elected to the Washington State Senate. In 1992, she ran for the United States Senate as a voice for Washington families who were not being heard. Dramatically outspent, Patty ran a grassroots campaign of family, friends, supporters, and public interest groups to beat a 10-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives. Patty was re-elected in 1998, 2004, and 2010.
Patty met her husband of over 40 years, Rob Murray, while attending Washington State University. They have two grown children, Sara and Randy. Patty enjoys fishing, exploring Washington state’s great outdoors and spending time with her family.