On June 1, Kathy Murphy became president of Wallace Community College-Dothan in Alabama. According to federal data, the school enrolls about 4,000 students, two-thirds of whom are women.
Prior to her new role, Dr. Murphy was president of Gadsden State Community College in Alabama for over four years. Her career in education includes three decades of experience in both higher education and K-12 settings. She has held principal and superintendent positions with several school districts throughout the state of Alabama. She has also taught at Judson College, the University of West Georgia, and Auburn University at Montgomery.
“Some people go to work every day to their job and others go to their career and I get to go to my calling”, said Dr. Murphy. “I appreciate the opportunity and the privilege I have to be a part of the Alabama Community College system, to have had the absolute blessing and pleasure of serving at Gadsden. Now, I warmly embrace and look forward to the opportunity and the privilege that we’ll have to serve alongside the great folks that are already at Wallace-Dothan.”
A graduate of Troy University in Alabama, Dr. Murphy holds two master’s degrees and an educational specialist degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and a doctorate from Auburn University
Heather Pence recently became president of Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta, Georgia. Across its nine campuses, the college enrolls over 9,800 students, 57 percent of whom are women.
With more than 20 years of experience at Chattahoochee Technical College, President Pence recently served as interim president and executive vice president for operations. She has served in several leadership capacities at the community college, overseeing financial, human resources, technology, and administrative divisions. Earlier, she worked for the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.
“I am honored to serve as President of Chattahoochee Technical College,” said President Pence. “Having dedicated my career to this college and to the Technical College System of Georgia, I am passionate about our mission of delivering high-quality education and workforce training. I look forward to working alongside our talented faculty, staff, and partners to continue providing life-changing opportunities for our students and strengthening the communities we serve.”
President Pence received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Georgia and her MBA from Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.