Oral history conducted for the 100 Years of Coeducation commemoration. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy arrived at William & Mary in 1996. During her time at William & Mary, Murphy interned with the Scrowcroft Group, joined Chi Omega, and completed an honors thesis in economics. After graduating in 2000 with a Bachelors of Arts in International Relations and Economics, Congresswoman Murphy worked in the Office of the Secretary Defense as a national security specialist. After moving to Florida, Murphy worked in the private sector before decided to run for Congress in 2016 against a twenty-four year incumbent. Murphy currently serves as a congresswoman for Florida’s 7th district. In her interview, Congresswoman Murphy describes how her family escaped from communist Vietnam to Virginia, where she grew up and attended William & Mary. She values the community and education she received at the College, emphasizing that her degree in economics in particular has given her “a framework for how to think about the world.” She reflects on the climate of the late 90s and early 2000s, touching on the Clinton administration, Y2K, and 9/11. Murphy believes that “good people” in public office remain integral to our nation, and this belief inspired her to ultimately run for Congress. She stresses her gratitude for the opportunities she has received as an immigrant women in both her career and in her college education. Ultimately, She hopes that both women and minorities gain the space to serve in Congress and beyond, thus diversifying our leadership and reflecting our country better as a whole.