Judson College is pleased to announce that this year’s commencement speaker is United States Congressman Martha D. Roby, who is currently serving the people of Alabama’s Second Congressional District for a third term. Martha Roby and Terri Sewell became the first women elected to Congress from Alabama in regular elections in 2011.
During her short tenure in Congress, Representative Roby has distinguished herself as an effective and pragmatic legislator. She has been an unwavering advocate for the Working Families Flexibility Act, designed to provide working families with greater flexibility in overtime compensation, during multiple legislative sessions. Roby also played a key role in the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, the legislation which governs US food policy issues, including conservation and commodity programs, crop insurance, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Representative Roby has demonstrated her concern for, and commitment to, current and former members of the armed services while in office. Roby has led multiple Congressional delegations to Afghanistan to survey conditions and visit with service members. She exposed abuses in the Veterans Affairs health system and has worked tirelessly to improve care for veterans, both locally and nationally. In May 2014, House Speaker John Boehner appointed her to the Benghazi Select Committee, a bi-partisan committee designated to investigate the military’s preparation and response to the Benghazi terror attacks.
A strong advocate for the wise use of federal resources, Martha Roby serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, which oversees government spending. In addition to defense and agricultural issues, Roby’s primary areas of focus on the Appropriations Committee are improving the services and efficiencies of the Department of Veterans Affairs and supporting the role of Career and Technical Education in workforce development. She is the first representative from the Second District to serve on this key congressional committee.
Roby earned a Bachelor of Music from New York University in 1998 and a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2001. Prior to being elected to Congress, Representative Roby worked as an attorney and served as a city councilman in her hometown of Montgomery. She is married to Riley Roby, and they have two children – Margaret, 11, and George, 7. They are active members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery.
“We are delighted that Congressman Roby will be speaking to the graduates of Judson College this year,” said Judson’s President, David E. Potts. “She is a woman of impeccable character who will certainly encourage and challenge these gifted young women to serve, excel, and believe.”
Roby will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Judson’s commencement exercises, which will be held in Alumnae Auditorium at 11:00 am on June 25. Additional information about Representative Roby is available at https://roby.house.gov/.