The Troy University Alumni Association is adding two new members to its Board of Directors.
Donna Horn, a 1982 alumna, and Dr. Kathy Murphy, a 1981 alumna, have joined the board’s ranks.
“The Troy University Alumni Board of Directors is extremely excited to welcome two great Trojans to the board. Each of these two ladies are ambassadors for our university,” said Jack Weaver, Board President. “Prior to coming on the board, they have committed their time, talents and money. As President of the Board, I am proud that each of these ladies bring their knowledge from their professions to the board but most of all is their love, dedication, passion and commitment for Troy University.”
Faith Byrd, Director of Alumni Affairs, said Horn and Murphy will bring dynamic leadership to the board.
“We are excited to have Donna and Kathy join the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors,” Byrd said. “Their dynamic leadership and love of Troy University will be a tremendous asset.”
Horn, who is employed with Horn Beverage Co., is a member of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame’s Board of Advisors, the Troy University Athletic Advisory Board and the Sorrell College of Business Advisory Board. She is a member of the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Nursing Home Administrator Licensing.
Horn is a two-time past president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, a past board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Troy, and a past board member of the Child Advocacy Center. She has previously served as Chair of the Pike County Republican Women, Chair of the Pike County Republican Party, secretary/treasurer for the 2nd Congressional District Republican Party and is a former member of the Pike County School Board.
Horn and her husband Jim have been married for 50 years and have two children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
“It is an honor for me to be selected to Alumni Association Board of Directors,” Horn said. “The members of this board have worked tirelessly to help Troy University to continue to achieve higher goals. I look forward to working with them to continue that tradition.”
Murphy, a native of Greenville, is president of Wallace Community College-Dothan. She previously served for four years as president of Gadsden State Community College.
Murphy has led two Alabama school systems as superintendent – Monroe County Schools and Hoover City Schools. She also has taught in the Auburn City School System and later served as principal at Greenville Middle School, Greenville High School, and Charles Henderson High School. Prior to serving in K-12 education, she was an Assistant Professor at Judson College and the University of West Georgia.
Murphy was named as a TROY Alumni of the Year in 2024. Among her other recognitions are Female Mover and Shaker in Birmingham, the Alabama Art Education Association’s Distinguished Service Outside the Profession Award, the Alabama School Public Relations Association’s Outstanding Leadership in School/Community Relations Award, Alabama Superintendent of the Year for District 5, the Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s Outstanding Administrator and Mabel C. Robinson Memorial Lecturer, the Birmingham Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Education and Leadership Alabama Class XXXIV. She was the first female to serve on the National Beta Club Board of Directors and the first female Chair of the National Board of Directors.
“Troy University positioned me for success,” Dr. Murphy said. “The college experience, classroom learning, and relationships built at TROY transformed my life. Now having the opportunity to serve our University through the Alumni Association Board of Directors is one I accept humbly and proudly. I look forward to serving and giving back to the institution that so significantly impacted my life and career.”
