Member

Wendy Floyd Murphy, of Wallace, NC, is the vice chair of the Board of Governors.

In 2004, Murphy Family Ventures was formed by Murphy's husband, Dell, to manage the day-to-day operations of the Murphy family businesses. She is involved in the hospitality segment, which includes the River Landing community, Mad Boar Restaurant, and hotel.

She believes that higher education is critical to meeting the needs of all individuals in our state and even beyond. She feels the commonly-held wisdom about the University's importance to North Carolina is correct: whether it is fostering critical research or preparing the next generation of teachers and business leaders to succeed, the UNC System is truly the economic engine driving our state. Its role is vital in helping move our state and its citizens forward.

Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and as a former teacher, she understands the importance of a solid foundation in education. The schools of education within our System must do all they can to prepare future teachers to train the next generation. She is proud of the work the current Board of Governors has played in strengthening our schools of education to ensure future teachers have the skills they need to be successful in the classroom.

Originally from Rose Hill, NC, Murphy has been active in public service for decades. She was a member of the UNC Wilmington Board of Trustees (2005-2015), serving two terms as chair and overseeing two chancellor searches. She previously served on the Duplin County Education Foundation, Duplin County Community Foundation, and Vidant Duplin Hospital Board of Directors.

Murphy currently serves on the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Foundation Board and Harrells Christian Academy's Board of Directors. She also chairs the River Landing Hope for Warriors Invitational, an annual event and fundraiser for over 10 years now, helping to support Hope's missions of programs for service members, veterans, and their families.

She and her husband Dell have two children, Wen and Regan, both graduates of the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University.

Her advice for today's students:

"Find your passion and chart your path. My favorite saying to recent graduates is, 'Do what you love, love what you do.' And most importantly, don't forget to give back along the way."