Latavius Murray

MBA, Class of 2020

NFL Running Back, Buffalo Bills

Latavius Murray journeyed from the high school football fields of central New York to a stellar career as a running back at NFL fields all over the country. It’s no accident—Murray has dedicated himself to working exceptionally hard, both on and off the field. 

“Every successful moment I’ve had in football has been a dream come true. When I think about how to summon success, I think about opportunity, and that’s also what I found at Whitman.” 

Now playing for the Buffalo Bills, Murray hasn’t lost sight of his desire to give back to the communities that helped shape him. He wanted to sharpen his skills in entrepreneurship, so he turned to the online MBA program at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. 

Using both his passion for change and the skills he gained in his MBA, Murray is now working to turn another long-held dream into reality. He is planning to build in Nedrow, New York, his hometown, the Jon Diaz Community Center, a gathering place for local youth that will feature classrooms, computer labs, game rooms and a gym. 

“It’s all about providing opportunities or opening up the minds of the younger generation, lending a hand in the community when you can. The more we focus on that, the more we lift others up. That’s what inspires and motivates a community.” 

The center is Murray’s way of creating a living legacy to honor his longtime childhood friend, Jonathan Diaz, who died tragically in 2016. 

The center is scheduled to break ground in 2023, with the goal of impacting people in a positive way. Murray said he drew on his MBA experience when solidifying his vision for the center, learning to ask the right questions, weigh opportunities and make informed decisions. 

“His [Diaz’s] name will be remembered, and he would definitely be proud. I always dreamed about having a community center, but I never thought I would be the one to make it happen.” 

Murray’s sense of motivation and community run deep, and he is proud to put his MBA and personal success to use to create opportunities for others. 

“The MBA program helped build my overall knowledge on how I approach any business opportunity.”