Alumni Spotlight: Cynthia Murphy-Ortega '91

Cynthia Murphy-Ortega

Manager, University Partnerships and Association Relations, Chevron Corporation
B.S. Chemical Engineering, ‘91

After graduating from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1991, Cynthia Murphy-Ortega was hired as an engineer at Chevron Corporation’s Richmond Refinery in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now in her 27th year with the company, she serves as a manager in Chevron’s University Partnerships and Association Relations group, where she develops strategic relationships with universities, including UC Davis, and national associations to support the curriculum, faculty and facilities needed to lead students to success after college. Murphy-Ortega previously held positions in engineering, maintenance, operations, financial and business planning, process safety management and technical competency development at Chevron. Murphy-Ortega is passionate about engineering education and diversity and inclusion and dedicates her time in these areas by serving on numerous boards at universities and national associations across the globe. At UC Davis, she is active in several advisory groups, including the Engineering Dean’s Executive Committee, along with advisory committees for Chemical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Leadership in Engineering Advancement Diversity and Retention (LEADR) program, and AvenueE community college transfer program.