When Mandy Hunter first set foot on McMurry University’s campus, it already felt like home. Her brother was a student there, and through countless visits, she’d fallen in love with the warmth of the people and the sense of community that seemed to flow through every hallway. But what truly sealed her decision was her passion for volleyball. McMurry offered not only the opportunity to pursue the sport she loved but also the environment that would shape her future both personally and professionally.
As a student, Mandy majored in Education with an emphasis on Physical Education and History, a combination that spoke to both her mind and her heart. She recalls being profoundly influenced by professors like Pug Parris, Dr. Shanafelt, and Dr. Frazier. “They knew their students and knew how to teach,” she remembers. Their energy, authenticity, and dedication didn’t just educate her; they inspired her. Mandy walked away from McMurry, determined to emulate their passion in her own classroom someday.
Her years as a student were filled with more than just academics. Mandy cherishes memories of going undefeated with the 1997 volleyball team, whose grit and team-first mentality left a lasting impression. She also treasures her time as a member of Delta Beta, a sisterhood that remains strong to this day. “We just had so much fun and usually got into some kind of shenanigans,” she laughs. Those bonds, built through friendship and shared experiences, continue to anchor her decades later.
After graduation, Mandy began her career as a teacher and coach in the early 2000s. Life, however, had other plans. A chance blind date, arranged by one of her athlete’s mothers, led her to her future husband, who worked in the oil field in Midland. It was a difficult decision, but Mandy left her coaching career to join him. “It was the hardest decision to make,” she recalls. “He made me a promise that I would get to come back someday.”
Years later, that promise was fulfilled. When her son began preparing for high school, Mandy longed to return to Abilene, to the kind of school that would nurture him in the same way McMurry had nurtured her. Fate intervened when a former colleague, now the principal at Abilene High, called and invited her to join the team. In the fall of 2024, Mandy officially came home.
Her decision to work in Abilene’s public schools is deeply tied to her belief in community and authenticity. “I wanted to work in a school and district where the kids were just normal, everyday teenagers, blue-collar, gritty kids,” she explains. Many of the same teachers and coaches she’d known before leaving in 2005 were still there, and she knew both she and her son would thrive in that environment.
Through it all, Mandy’s connection to McMurry has remained strong. “McMurry was a place that valued loyalty and authenticity,” she says. “Those are ideas that I want to show and teach others.” Her love for her alma mater shines through her service on the McMurry Alumni Association Board of Directors, where she now serves as chair of recruitment. Her goal is to bridge the gap between alumni and prospective students by embodying the spirit of McMurry in her daily life. “Now that I live in Abilene again, I want to engage people by being a symbol in the community,” she says. As a public school educator, she’s uniquely positioned to help identify and inspire the next generation of McMurry students.
For Mandy Hunter, McMurry isn’t just her alma mater; it’s a lifelong influence. From the volleyball court to the classroom, from Abilene to Midland and back again, her story is one of resilience, heart, and an unshakable loyalty to the place that helped her become who she is today.
Do you or an alum you know have a great post-McMurry story? We’d love to feature YOU! Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@mcm.edu to schedule an interview.