Delayed dream realized
by Catherine Deyarmond
Growing up in a strict Hispanic, Catholic family in San Antonio, Lyda Creus Molanphy decided to spread her wings and head to the East Coast to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Law school was in the distant future when, at Duke, Creus Molanphy studied public policy and journalism.
“I really thought I wanted to be a journalist. A friend and I started a news show on campus,” she said.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy, Journalism, Politics and Communications, Creus Molanphy moved to Washington, D.C., to work for The Wilson Quarterly and later the National Journal, where she concentrated on compiling and summarizing news from her home state.
Returning to Texas
Her work in D.C. led to making a contact in Texas who suggested she head back south to work for a public affairs company on Ann Richards’ gubernatorial campaign.
“I started in July 1990 and thought I would work in Austin through the election in November. I wasn’t expecting Richards to win,” Creus Molanphy said. “I had been applying to law schools and was accepted to American University in D.C. After Richards’ win, I was 22 years old, enjoying my work and making great money. Law school would have to wait.”
Although she halted her plans for a law degree, she felt it was a great time to be in Austin. When Creus Molanphy would see Richards, she would re-introduce herself to the governor, not taking for granted she remembered Creus Molanphy’s name.
“Ann would look at me and, with that southern drawl, say, ‘Lyda, I know who you are,’ ” Creus Molanphy recalled.
As life would have it, Creus Molanphy ended up staying in Austin. She married Paul Molanphy and had two children.
“I worked for a public affairs company, Shipley Associates, for 14 years,” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity. I cannot emphasize enough the power of having a mentor and someone who believes in you.”
Creus Molanphy was recruited to work for the Texas Dental Association, which had been a client. As Director of Executive Affairs and Interim Director of the TDA Smiles Foundation, she helped establish the nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status, led an organization-wide rebranding and staffed the state’s delegation to the American Dental Association.
Changing priorities
Her professional journey changed when her husband died unexpectedly in a car accident in 2008. Their children were only 9 and 12.
“At that time, nothing mattered,” she said. “All I wanted was to be home with them. I started doing my own consulting and before I knew it, I had a business and clients. I could work crazy hours because my priority was to take the kids to school and be there to pick them up.”
In 2010, Creus Molanphy officially launched her business, Connections Consulting, with the guidance of a treasured mentor who helped leverage her diverse experience with the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
“This was a really pivotal time for my kids,” she said. “I got to travel and take them to see colleges. The three of us became very close.”
Promoting preservation
Another turning point occurred when Creus Molanphy went to a meeting with Deborah Morin, who is dedicated to preserving local springs and creeks in the Hill Country.
“Morin heard I was the best nonprofit recruiter,” and she had a vision to develop a national-park-sized preserve from San Antonio to Austin with a spring-to-spring trail, Creus Molanphy said. Morin is a longtime philanthropic supporter of the environment in Texas.
In the spring of 2019, Creus Molanphy was hired by Morin to help launch her vision by recruiting the first CEO for the Great Springs Project. She went on to recruit the chief development officer and to help establish the new organization. This all led to Creus Molanphy being offered a job there where she worked for three and a half years.
“My sweet spot is as an organizational development catalyst — in this case, helping launch a new organization and filling the leadership team,” she said. “By 2023, I was ready to go back to having my own business.”
Reviving a plan
During this time, her dream of attending law school kept calling her.
Creus Molanphy said choosing the School of Law at St. Mary’s University was a personal decision.
“I grew up in San Antonio,” she said. “My dad passed away in 2018, and my mom is here alone. I knew attending law school here was a way to be a part of my mom’s life on a weekly basis.”
St. Mary’s worked with me on every level, from finances to accommodations when I had back surgery. This is more of a ‘Yes, you can school,’ than a ‘No, you can’t school.’ ”
— Lyda Creus Molanphy
Another reason she chose St. Mary’s was being able to start law school on a part-time basis.
“Starting in the Fall of 2021, I would drive to San Antonio from Austin on Mondays. Each Monday through Thursday, I would attend class at night and work during the day. I would drive back to Austin after class ended at 8 p.m. on Thursdays,” she explained.
In order to speed up her graduation, Creus Molanphy started taking summer school and then went full time in Spring 2024.
“I realized with my own consulting business I could actually juggle both,” she added. “It’s not easy, but I valued being able to manage my schedule to focus both on school and work.”
Earning her law degree
With her mother, sisters and children in the audience, Creus Molanphy will walk the stage at the Fall 2024 Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 14, to earn her Doctor of Jurisprudence.
“At St. Mary’s, I found faculty who partnered and collaborated with me,” she said. “Associate Dean Zoe Niesel and others supported me. They allowed me to ask questions; conversations were allowed.”
Niesel, J.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, described Creus Molanphy as having “an unwavering commitment to professional excellence coupled with a passion for the law.”
“Whether working on class assignments, extracurriculars or internships, she has consistently demonstrated the kind of judgment, integrity and work ethic that will serve her exceptionally well in her legal career,” Niesel said. “As Lyda prepares to transition from law student to lawyer, I am confident that she will become the kind of attorney who not only serves her clients with distinction but also contributes meaningfully to the advancement of our profession.”
Creus Molanphy said her plans after graduating will be studying for the Texas Bar Exam in late February.
“In an ideal world, I see my future as continuing to build my business,” she said. “My work is really centered around nonprofits.”
She also intends to continue helping women in the workforce.
“Women in Texas have a hard time if they’ve been home and not working for a while, or if they’ve been working and aren’t moving up,” Creus Molanphy said. “I have an entire section of my business called Women Win. I believe with my legal degree I can be even more helpful to all of my clients.”
Her experience at St. Mary’s Law has re-emphasized her belief that she isn’t out to make the most money but to make the biggest difference.
“For me, life is short,” she said. “From a professional standpoint, I really enjoy my work. I can now offer more services to these clients who I care about.”
She said St. Mary’s Law helped her better understand who she is and of what she is capable.
“St. Mary’s worked with me on every level, from finances to accommodations when I had back surgery,” she said. “This is more of a ‘Yes, you can school,’ than a ‘No, you can’t school.’ ”
