Del Kirkpatrick Murray

Over the past decade, I’ve been exploring how organizations function when they don’t have enough people—where gaps, workarounds, and invisible decisions determine whether the system holds or breaks. I coach leaders navigating large, decentralized institutions to strengthen their ability to influence across boundaries and build effective partnerships. I help leaders move from reactive problem-solving to proactive problem-solving, improving performance and outcomes. 
My perspective comes from working inside systems where the visible work is only a fraction of what is actually happening. Leading high-stakes academic operations taught me what it costs to make sound decisions under pressure when the consequences ripple across multiple stakeholders. That systems-level lens is what I bring to every client who is managing ambiguity, competing priorities, and constrained capacity. 

My coaching draws on deep listening, reflective inquiry, and powerful questioning to surface what is most critical amid organizational noise. Together, we challenge assumptions, align decisions with core values and strategic goals, and identify clear next steps rather than staying at the surface of the problem. Clients have said that working with me helped them dig deeper to find the most immediate path forward in their planning. 

I am a Tulane University Leadership Institute Certified Leadership Coach and Assistant Dean of Academic Services at Tulane Law School. In my coaching work, I partner with mid-level managers and administrators who carry significant institutional responsibility to lead change, build sustainable teams, and clarify priorities when they are navigating organizational transitions and competing institutional demands. 

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies - Higher Education from Oklahoma State University. I also hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University.  

Outside of work, I enjoy spending meaningful time with family, my Yorkie Terrier, and friends, and trying new eateries.