Troy alumna hired on executive position

A Troy University alumna has been appointed as the communications coordinator of the College of Education and Behavioral Studies in the Office of University Relations as of March 4. 

Gracie Smith is a Spring 2025 graduate of Troy University who, for the past 10 months, was working as the coordinator of campusexperiences for the Office of Admissions. She said though she enjoyed her job in the Office of Admissions, she’s always had her eye on the title of communications coordinator. 

“I knew I wanted to be up here at some point,” Smith said. “I didn't think it was going to happen this soon.  

“I know you kind of have to work your way up sometimes, but I've just come up here and I've just tried to talk to people and try to, you know, kind of get my face and my name out there and just meet people and tell them I'm interested. When the position came up, actually, I think Elizabeth Ann brought my name up, which was really, really awesome.” 

As communications coordinator, Smith will help the College of Education and Behavioral Studies with their social media, campus event promotion, communication with university officials and communication with the rest of the Office of University Relations to help highlight the college and all that they are doing. 

In her time as a student at Troy, Smith was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and Women in Business before graduating with a bachelor of business administration in marketing. When she started college, her dream was to work in marketing or promotion for the arts in one way or another but seeing how difficult it was to enter the field pushed her away from that dream, at least for now. 

“I started out with dance and the arts at first, so I really, really wanted to promote something in the arts because that's what I was passionate about the time,” Smith said. “I even worked with some dance studios throughout high school and throughout college here in Troy, which I really liked.  

“It's just really hard to promote the arts and I would love to maybe do that again sometime if I can go back to the arts, but I think this isjust as good. I'm just as passionate about this place as I was with the arts.” 

Straying from what she had wanted to do for so long left her in an emotionally and professionally unstable spot come graduation. She realized that getting a job in her field wasn’t as easy as she had hoped and worried she may have to settle for an unexciting job. 

“It is so scary, and I felt like I just kind of had to take something,” Smith said. “Whatever was available, even if I wasn't interested in it at all, I felt like I just had to grab anything that I could. 

“I just knew that as long as I could show my passion in whatever I was doing and try to grow within that, then I can take it somewhere else easily and I feel like I did an okay job at that.” 

Luckily for her, she got the job as coordinator of campus experiences and was able to work her way up to the position she really wanted in less than a year – a time frame that is surprising not only to professionals that know how difficult of a job market communications can have, but to herself as well. 

“I feel like things have been going by pretty fast, which I think is good,” Smith said. “I feel super lucky and I'm just super thankful. 

“I know how hard it is in the type of field that I chose to get a job where you prefer to work, but I’m thankful to be in a place I’m so passionate about.” 

Prior to this job, Smith never had any involvement or real interest in the education program, but in her time at this new position, however short it may be, she found a real love and appreciation for it. 

“I feel so honored to even be a part of their college because they were the first one,” Smith said. “I guess that's what makes it so cool: just how prestigious it is.” 

She hasn’t held the position for long, but in the time she’s had it, the job has continued to surprise her with how much she’s enjoyed it. 

“It’s been a lot of fun just because I think I've made a post once a day since I've been here because I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, this just needs to be put out,’ and that's just such an exciting feeling,” Smith said. "Spreading that love on social media and seeing it like in real life has been so much fun, my favorite part, for sure.” 

Looking forward, her only plans are to keep getting better at the job she has now. While a change of position or scenery may be an optionin the future, she is locked into Troy for the time being. 

“I've loved it so much already, in my mind, I'm like, ‘I could stay here forever, and I would be totally fine with it,’” Smith said. “I would love that kind of future as long as I'm doing what I love, and this is what I love.  

“I'm just excited – excited for the opportunities to come. Excited for all the changing slates just because Troy's internal is always changing so much.” 

Four years of studying and an undefinable amount of time working at one university takes true dedication and love for the school and the community it creates. With Troy, Smith had no problem finding the love and making the commitment. 

“This was my only college tour that I took, and I was committed to it immediately,” Smith said. “I'm not sure what it is about Troy – I'mnot sure if it's just the small hometown vibe that it has or just the perfect size community that we have, but we're just not like those other big schools. 

“You can't really explain it. It’s home.”