Foundation Board of Directors

The ECU Foundation is led by an experienced and committed Board of Directors. The Board of Directors functions as a policy-building group that assists the Foundation in maintaining the spirit, and meeting the outcomes, of its mission and vision.

Marcus Smith, Board President

Marcus was born in Roswell, New Mexico. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Amarillo where he has thrived. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has served as Education Credit Union’s CFO since 2015, and he is currently the President and CEO of the credit union. Marcus serves on the board of 24 Hours in the Canyon, Amarillo College Foundation Board, and the P16 Council.  He and his wife, Julie, enjoy traveling along with keeping up with their three college kids.

Adrian Alejandre, Board Vice President

Adrian Alejandre grew up in Hereford, Texas. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2009 with a Bachelors in Business Administration – Accounting. He has been in the financial services industry since 2006 and joined Education Credit Union in 2021 as the Senior Vice President of Lending. He also serves on the Board of the Hereford ISD Education Foundation. He and his wife Isela have two children and enjoy spending time outdoors.

Linda Purdy, Board Member

Linda Purdy grew up in Fort Worth, Texas where she graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in mathematics. She received certification to teach math and Spanish and taught at the secondary level for seven years in Abilene, San Angelo, and Amarillo. In 1983 she joined the Christian Relief Fund staff serving that charity for 33 years. She became Executive Director in 1994, working in that capacity until retirement in 2016. She and her husband, Ira, have two children living in Lubbock, TX and six grandchildren. Linda and Ira enjoy travel and working with their church in various volunteer activities. She has served on the Board of Directors of Education Credit Union since 2009.

Lindsey Murphy, Board Secretary

Lindsey was born and raised in Amarillo. She graduated from Frank Phillips College in 2003 with an Associate of Fine Arts degree and graduated from West Texas A&M in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications, Advertising, and Public Relations. She is the Strategic Partnership Manager for Education Credit Union. She has been with ECU for 16 years. Lindsey serves on the board of Amarillo Chamber of Commerce as the Finance Chair, 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle as the Chairman of the Board, and Children’s Miracle Network as a board member. She also is on Sharing Hope Ministry Style for Success event committee, Road to Hope Lunch Buddy program, and the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation’s Women’s Circle Grant committee, Our Colors Run Together Race committee, and Advisory committee. Lindsey is married to James Murphy; they have two children and one granddaughter.  Lindsey enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Ty Cox, Board Treasurer

Ty brings to the ECU Foundation a wealth of financial expertise, with over twenty-four years of experience in banking. His diverse career includes roles such as teller, credit analyst, Bank Secrecy Act officer, compliance officer, and commercial lender. Cox served as CFO at another local financial institution for ten years before joining ECU. A native of Amarillo, TX, Cox graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science. He furthered his education with a Master of Science in Finance and Economics (MSFE) from West Texas A&M University, graduating in 2010. Cox values his family highly, including his wife, Hope, and their three daughters, Cami, Crosby, and Callan.

Jen Ufford, Board Member

Jen Ufford serves as the Senior Vice President of Member Experience at Education Credit Union, where she has spent the past decade helping drive growth and exceptional service for members and employees alike. Throughout her career at ECU, she has held leadership roles in Compliance, Strategic Initiatives, and now Retail Operations, giving her a well-rounded perspective on organizational leadership and member advocacy. Jen began her journey in the compliance arena, later leading strategic initiatives focused on operational improvement and long-term organizational success before stepping into the retail and member experience role. Her passion for people, culture, and service excellence continues to shape her leadership approach and commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both members and teams. She graduated Cum Laude from West Texas A&M University in August 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Jen is passionate about community involvement and values opportunities to support organizations that make a positive impact locally. Outside of her professional career, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, and their two daughters.