Brendan Murphy | Interfaith Lecture Series

Originally broadcast at 2:00 p.m. ET Thursday, July 31, 2025 Brendan Murphy is the founding director of the Bearing Witness Institute for Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue at Marist School. He has taught history at Marist since 1994 and is actively involved in developing educational initiatives and created a compelling “History and the Holocaust” seminar at Marist that is complemented by cocurricular international field trips to sites in Europe that were significant during the Holocaust. Over the years, high demand for Murphy’s thought-provoking antisemitism presentations at churches and synagogues in Atlanta, Georgia and across the country spurred the creation of the Bearing Witness Institute. Murphy has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Educator Award from the Anne Frank Center in New York, the ADL’s Abe Goldstein Human Relations and Unsung Hero Awards. His dedication to excellence in teaching has been acknowledged at Marist School and on the state level, with the Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Independent School Association and twice with the Georgia Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. He also has been recognized as Teacher of the Year by the University of Notre Dame. Additionally, Murphy has participated in prestigious programs such as the Museum Teacher Fellowship at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Lerner Fellowship at the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous in New York City. Recently, he was selected to participate in Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2025. In addition to serving as director of the Bearing Witness Institute and teaching his Holocaust seminar, Murphy moderates a Peace by Piece group, which brings students from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities together to foster friendship and understanding. In the coming years, he will replicate this Peace by Piece model in communities and schools across the nation. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in education and history from the University of Notre Dame and holds a master’s degree in theology from Spring Hill College. -- ► Join this channel to enjoy member perks    / @chautauquainstitution   -- Like CHQ on Facebook:   / chq1874   Follow CHQ on Instagram:   / chq1874   -- As a not-for-profit organization, all of Chautauqua Institution's programs and offerings are made possible by philanthropy. We welcome your support and engagement! Visit giving.chq.org to make a gift.