Kerry Healey

Kerry Murphy Healey (born April 30, 1960) is President Emerita of Babson College and served as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 under Governor Mitt Romney. A former member of the Republican Party, she was the party's nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in the 2006 gubernatorial election, but was defeated by Deval Patrick. From 2001 to 2002 and 2012-2013, Healey served as the Republican National Committeewoman for the state of Massachusetts. Healey currently serves on the boards of public companies, universities, cultural organizations and the Forward Party. She was the inaugural president of the Milken Institute's Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, DC, 2019-2022. She served as a special advisor for Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign in 2012. She then served as the president of Babson College for six years, retiring in 2019. She left the Republican Party on January 7, 2021 and joined the Forward Party in June, 2023. Early life and education Murphy was born on April 30, 1960, in Omaha, Nebraska. She grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida and is the only child of Shirley and Edward Murphy (1919–2005). Her father served during World War II and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve after 27 years of service. He also worked as a residential real estate developer. Her mother worked as a public elementary school teacher. When Healey was 15, her father suffered a severe heart attack that rendered him unable to work for the rest of his life. This put a financial strain on the family and led Healey to work a number of part-time jobs. Healey also served as class president and student council president at Seabreeze High School.