Sydney Owen has been named the Director of Annual Giving and Special Projects at Troy University.
Owen graduated from TROY in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She moved away after graduation, but returned to Troy in 2020 and started working in the Office of Development in 2022 as an Annual Giving Officer.
She transitioned into her new title in July following the retirement of Meredith Welch, who held the position for nearly four years, including 18 total years at TROY.
“Sydney has done a fantastic job for the Office of Development after assuming her new role earlier this year,” said William Filmore, Vice Chancellor of Government and External Relations. “She has presented new ideas for fundraising initiatives while helping make the Chancellor’s Golf Tournament and Giving Day a resounding success. We are excited to have her at TROY and look forward to the numerous ways she will continue to positively contribute in the future.”
Owen said her ultimate goal is to help people understand exactly how the Development Office operates and how they are able to benefit the University, its students and its staff.
“I care about our students and bettering the University, its growth and its mission, so ultimately my goal is to have people understand that we are here for the same reasons,” she said. “We care about making things better, and we have to raise money for the projects that will improve programs and add new things to campus.”
Another goal she’d like to continue to works towards is continuing to increase student involvement and creating a culture of giving. Student campaigns like Students Step Up—which raises money for the Trojan Pantry and the Student Alumni Endowed Scholarship—and the Senior Class Project were created in recent years and have maintained steady participation.
“The students so far have seemed to love being involved in those projects. The seniors especially are getting those last moments in and those last pieces of memorabilia with the medallion,” Owen said. “I work closely with the Student Government Association as well, and one of their goals is building up the Trojan Pantry, so that’s also where a lot of our efforts go.”
She joins the ranks of many TROY alumni-turned-employee and said her experience as a TROY student has allowed her to have a better understanding of how she can best help current, and future, students.
“It’s so special to have graduated from TROY and to be back here working now,” she said. “When you have those ties, it makes it so much better to come back and work. I care so much more because I have history here—I remember my time from TROY, and now I see it in a different light and have the opportunity to help from a different side.”
