Dennisha Murff is an administrator, educator, author, adjunct professor, consultant, and relentless advocate for equitable educational opportunities for all. Throughout her education career, she has worked hard to incorporate equity, inclusion, social justice, and culturally responsive practices into her work.  Dr. Murff is also the founder of Murff Consulting Group, LLC, an educational consulting group focused on cultivating the greatness within each scholar through the Education Empowerment Movement.  In addition, she has released her podcast series, Education Empowerment Movement, which has been listened to around the world.  Dr. Murff believes education is the great equalizer.  This can only take place when students are provided with a diverse school setting where high expectations are the foundation for learning.  This learning environment must include adults who are willing to challenge the status-quo to give students the learning opportunities they deserve. 

A product of Elkhart Community Schools in Elkhart, IN, Dr. Murff completed her undergraduate work at Ball State University where she earned a dual major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.  After graduation, she chose to immediately begin her teaching career.  Her lifelong goal of teaching children brought her great joy!  Within a couple of years, she decided to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to earn her Master’s degree in Education.  Dr. Murff had been encouraged to obtain her administrative license, but she felt it wasn’t the right path for her and desired to continue teaching in the classroom.  Nonetheless, leadership opportunities surfaced making it clear Dr. Murff’s calling was in administration.  She believed she could impact the teaching and learning environment for students and staff members on a larger scale.  With that decision in mind, Dr. Murff returned to school and received her administrative licensure from Indiana University.  In 2017, Dr. Murff obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Purdue University.  Her dissertation focused on the power of culturally responsive pedagogy to increase student learning outcomes for African American male students.  In 2020, she published her book, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Promising Practices for African American Male Students.  Dr. Murff was also recognized as the 2020 Indiana Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals. 

Dr. Murff’s teaching journey opened her eyes to the variations in equitable access to learning opportunities in the school setting.  Once she moved into administration, the disparities were glaring not only in school buildings, but across school districts.  As Dr. Murff continued to push towards equitable opportunities, she began to heavily focus on culturally responsive practices in the school setting.  Her passion for increasing student learning outcomes for all students was evident from her first day of teaching.  This passion continues to drive the work Dr. Murff does at the building, district, and state level. She has served as a workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and trainer.  

Dr. Murff has over 24 years of experience in education.  She feels honored to have spent the majority of her educational career in one school district, which is located in a large metropolitan city.  Dr. Murff is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for the Language Assistance Program in her district.  She served as an elementary school principal for 14 years prior to her new role.  She has served as an assistant principal and elementary school teacher.  She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  Dr. Murff and her husband, Darrell Murff, are the proud parents of three amazing children, McKenzie, Lincoln, and Averi.   She strongly believes her most important role in life is being their mother.  They are her greatest blessings!