Hi! My name is Tracy Williams-Murphy. I work in the Graduate School of Education as a program specialist for the Department of Special Education and I am a proud PSU-AAUP member-leader, volunteer and activist. I became involved in PSU-AAUP when negotiating for our prior contract, PSU-AAUP members were asked to support a “strike-vote” if it became necessary. During that period when the university management and its labor force seemed to be at a difficult crossroad, I knew that my voice, my presence and my experiences as an African American woman were needed in PSU-AAUPs stand for working conditions that treated our students, faculty, academic professionals and staff with the respect we deserve. Since that time, I've been involved in several PSU-AAUP caucuses, as a unit rep and currently serve as an Executive Council At-Large member. It is only through an organized labor force that a work-life balance, equity and parity can be achieved and maintained for all of us who consider working in higher education our “higher calling!”