Donna Dougherty '79

“My McMurry experience was different than a traditional student’s might have been. I got married my freshman year in college and worked until Chester (`69) graduated.”  When Donna returned to McMurry, her life was quite different from that of a traditional student. “When I went back to school, Chester was a coach at Cooper High School, so I was involved in attending sporting events, and I had two small children. Juggling my family responsibilities and going to McMurry full time were about all I could manage.” 

Despite the challenges, Donna recalls that she was encouraged by the caring nature of the faculty and staff at McMurry. “They were always willing to work with me and go the extra mile.” This was best exemplified when shortly before graduating in December of 1978, Donna was offered a full-time teaching opportunity at a local school. “My professors worked with me so I could take the job, and still finish all my coursework to graduate.”<

Now as the owner of a State Farm Insurance Agency in Abilene, Donna gives back to her alma mater. She has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005 and is happy to take a leadership role in this campaign. “McMurry is competing with other colleges and universities for students. In order to recruit good students to McMurry, I feel it is vital that we have the facilities to compete with other universities.”  In addition to the emphasis on improving facilities, Donna supports the goals of the campaign to increase the number of endowed scholarships. “I am pleased that our Capital Campaign includes both endowed merit scholarships, as well as endowed need-based scholarships.”

Almost thirty years after her graduation, Donna still believes in that same spirit of giving and service she experienced as a student. “We have some of the very best faculty here and when students come to McMurry and get involved, I believe they will catch the McMurry spirit. First we have to get them here, and I believe the Capital Campaign will address that challenge.”