TROY News Center

TROY – Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley will provide the keynote address to Troy University’s largest-ever spring commencement exercise on May 10.

This spring’s graduating class includes some 915 students who have filed intents to graduate, among those some 825 from the Troy Campus alone. In all, about 650 students representing 27 states and 14 countries will take part in the ceremonies.

Commencement exercises will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Trojan Arena, and will require a ticket for entry. Graduating students will receive instructions on how to obtain tickets for families and friends.

Gov. Bentley was elected Alabama’s 53^rd governor in 2010 on his promise not to accept a salary until the state reached full employment, calculated to be a 5.2 percent unemployment rate. As a result, his administration has keyed on new job creation and has seen a drop from 9.3 percent in January 2011 to 6.9 percent in January 2013. Gov. Bentley surpassed his goal of creating more than 10,000 new jobs for Alabamians in his first year in office. As a result of his efforts and his leadership, more than 17,200 new, future jobs were announced by the end of 2011. In 2012, companies in Alabama announced 20,847 new jobs, bringing the total number of jobs added to more than 38,000 in the first two years of the Administration.

Gov. Bentley has led legislative efforts to increase incentives for new businesses and industry, to protect consumers by controlling the rising cost of homeowners insurance in the state, to reform the state’s pension system and to streamline government services and reduce spending. 

Gov. Bentley is committed to saving Alabama taxpayers $1 billion over the next four years by “right-sizing” state government.

Prior to becoming governor, Dr. Bentley served two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives, serving from District 63. He was born and reared in Shelby County and graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He established a dermatology practice in Tuscaloosa in 1974, and, under his leadership, Alabama Dermatology Associates grew to become one of the largest such practices in the Southeast.

Gov. Bentley co-chairs the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse through the National Governor’s Association. He also serves on that organization’s Economic Development and Commerce Commission. He is the incoming chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

He and his wife of 47 years, Dianne, have four sons and six granddaughters.

Gov. Robert Bentley

Second District Congresswoman Martha Roby will address the skills necessary for women to succeed in today’s world during a presentation at Troy University on May 1.

Presented by the University’s Motivating and Instilling Sophisticated Students into an Elite Society (M.I.S.S. Elite), the program titled “Equipping Today’s Women for Life’s Journey” will be held at 11 a.m. in the Trojan Center Ballrooms on the Troy Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Through a variety of seminars, discussions and campus and community involvement, M.I.S.S. Elite seeks to help students realize their full potential by building self-confidence, molding leadership skills and emphasizing good character and proper personal appearance.

Roby will speak from personal experiences about the challenges associated with balancing career and family, as well as attributes that have proven helpful to her as she has navigated her life’s journey.

“This is a unique opportunity to showcase and expose the gifted and talented women of the M.I.S.S. Elite Society,” said Dr. LaKerri Mack, Assistant Professor of Political Science at TROY and advisor to the organization. “Given M.I.S.S. Elite’s mission of motivating and instilling sophisticated students into an elite society, Congresswoman Martha Roby is the epitome of an elite woman and we are most delighted to have her as our guest. As for the women of Troy University, she is best suited to equip them for their life journey.”

A Montgomery native, Roby was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and now sits on the prestigious House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

Janice Hawkins, Troy University First Lady, said Roby’s appearance provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn from the first-hand experiences of a woman who is dedicated to both her family and to public service.

“We are very proud of the impact that the M.I.S.S. ELITE Society is having on Troy University and we are excited to hear from Rep. Roby, who has had a tremendous impact on her community, state and nation,” Mrs. Hawkins said. “I know those in attendance on May 1 will benefit from Rep. Roby’s insights and find many to be applicable in their own lives.”

Prior to her election to Congress, Roby served as a member of the Montgomery City Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and received her law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2001. Prior to her entry into public service, she practiced law at Copeland, Franco, Screws & Gill, P.A. and remains a member in good standing with the Alabama and Mississippi bar associations.

Roby is married to Riley Roby and the couple has two children, Margaret and George. They are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, where they are involved in various ministries.

U.S. Rep. Martha Roby

ATLANTA – Troy University will open its doors to Atlanta-area students and prospective students for a free seminar on the importance of accreditation in higher education.

Led by Dr. Hal Fulmer, the University’s dean of undergraduate and first-year studies and associate provost, the seminar begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2 in Sandy Springs at 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N101. Seating is limited and registration is recommended online at http://trojan.troy.edu/globalcampus/sites/atlanta/. The event will be streamed online for those who are interested but are unable to attend. Registration for the online event is also available at the same address.

“Given the current economic climate and job market, many are turning to higher education as a way to improve their own marketability,” said Bill Glisson, district director for TROY’s Atlanta District. “With the recent influx of collegiate options in Atlanta, many are unaware of the various accrediting bodies, what they mean, and how it affects the education they may receive at a given school. More importantly, many are unaware of the outcomes they may face if they pursue an education at a school that does not hold accreditation by a recognized accrediting body.”

Dr. Fulmer has extensive experience in the area of accreditation, having served as a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) leadership team for the University’s successful reaffirmation of accreditation in 2007 – 2010, and a member of the University’s SACS steering committee 2002-2003.

“Understanding accreditation in higher education is an important part of earning a college degree.  What accreditation means, how it happens and why it is so significant are questions that any prospective college student—and college graduate—needs to understand.  Accreditation is all about the integrity and value of a student’s higher education,” Dr. Fulmer said.

TROY – Troy University’s efforts at sustainability reach even downed limbs on the Troy Campus.

The University is highlighting Earth Week 2013 with a series of events designed to promote environmental awareness and recycling, in cooperation with KW Plastics and City of Troy.

Many efforts – from lighting considerations, to construction to grounds management – include specific steps aimed at reducing the campus’ carbon footprint, said Mark Salmon, director of the University’s Physical Plant.

“We are working to look at ways we can be more sustainable in every process we have,” he said.

One of those processes deals with limb debris removal on the campus, and has become a boon to fireplace owners in the city.

“We’re cutting and stacking firewood. It’s incredible to see the reduction in our waste stream caused simply by cutting debris into firewood length, stacking it and putting up a small sign that says ‘Free Firewood’,” he said.

For the past several years, the University has chipped limbs under six inches, stockpiling the results for use as mulch in flowerbeds on the campus. What was too big for the chipper was hauled away.

“Not only is the University saving transportation costs and landfill costs, its reducing the waste stream going into landfills,” Salmon said. “Everybody loves firewood, and we’re finding better uses for the debris than what we were before.”

Other shifts in debris management include using some of it in erosion control measures around the campus.

“We’re reclaiming this for use on campus and its finding its way back into the ecosystem rather than being dumped in a landfill,” he said. “It’s a move that makes sense financially and ecologically.”

DOTHAN—Troy University’s annual learning enrichment camp for local children, Summer Spectacular, will start June 4 at Kelly Springs Elementary School with the theme “Kids as NASA Scientists.”

Open to children ages 4 to 12, the camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from June 4 to June 25. The cost is $30 per week, per child and registration will be held on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside Adams Hall room 112 at the TROY Dothan Campus.

Troy University students majoring in education lead the annual four-week summer learning enrichment program. Summer Spectacular provides a fun learning environment for children while giving TROY students hands-on experience in a classroom setting.

Under this year’s “NASA” theme, children will engage in a variety of activities exploring science, technology, engineering and math.

For more information, or to request a registration form, contact Dr. Cynthia Hicks at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .