University Honors Global Scholars
Elevating Academic Excellence - Imagine, Inquire, Immerse, Inspire
Elevating Academic Excellence - Imagine, Inquire, Immerse, Inspire
At Troy University, we believe that the brightest minds deserve the broadest horizons. The University Honors Global Scholars Program (UHGSP) is more than an academic distinction; it's an immersive, transformative experience designed for students who are ready to push boundaries, embrace global perspectives and lead with purpose.
As a UHGSP scholar, you won't just study the world—you'll experience it. Through rigorous coursework, international opportunities and hands-on leadership development, you'll engage with complex global challenges, collaborate with distinguished faculty and build meaningful connections across cultures.
The UHGS Program cultivates a select community of academically exceptional, culturally curious and highly motivated scholars. Our students share a passion for intellectual exploration, innovation and service, striving not only for personal excellence but also for a lasting impact on their communities and the world. If you are driven by a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to leadership, the UHGS Program will empower you to rise to your full potential.
Our advanced honors curriculum challenges students to think critically, engage globally and apply knowledge beyond the classroom. Through interdisciplinary global seminars, experiential learning and undergraduate research opportunities, our scholars develop the skills and perspectives needed for academic and professional excellence.
UHGSP fosters leadership development by offering scholars opportunities to grow, mentor and serve in impactful ways. Scholars can pursue a Leadership Minor, develop skills through mentorship opportunities, and receive competitive leadership support to help them pursue state, regional and national leadership roles. They also have the chance to form global connections by becoming an International Student Partner, facilitating cross-cultural exchange.
The UHGSP honors coursework is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel. It combines honors sections of general studies courses with specialized courses offered through the University Honors Global Scholars Program. Each academic college provides distinct honors coursework, ensuring a well-rounded and enriching academic experience.
A robust peer mentoring program will connect new students with experienced peers, helping them navigate the diverse opportunities available across campus and in the local community. Through these connections, students gain a deeper understanding of the global learning community, campus resources and service projects, fostering both personal and academic growth.
Honors courses are offered across various academic colleges, providing diverse pathways for a customized advanced honors education.
Are you an artist, scholar, historian, community organizer, or cultural practitioner? Community Fellows work directly with Troy University faculty and students, bringing community wisdom and lived experience into conversation with academic research.
Troy University's College of Arts and Humanities and Honors Program are now accepting applications for two exciting fellowship opportunities.
These fellowships are part of (Re)reading Alabama's Cultural Archives: Connecting Place to Its Multitudes, a Mellon Foundation initiative that reimagines how we understand Alabama's cultural heritage. We're documenting and elevating the diverse voices that shape our state—from literary and musical traditions to visual arts, performance, and oral histories—with special focus on African American, Native American, and immigrant communities.
Selected high-performing, high-potential first-year students (minimum GPA: 3.5) will be invited to apply to the UHGSP. These students are nominated by faculty members and must submit a complete UHGSP application. Nominated students will be invited to interview during the early spring semester of their first year at Troy University. Invitations to apply will be sent via TROY email in mid-March, with admission decisions announced in mid-April. Accepted students will begin the UHGSP curriculum at the start of their second year, fulfilling the Year 2 program requirements.
Selected high-performing, high-potential transfer students entering Troy University who receive the Presidential Transfer Scholarship or the One TROY Transfer Scholarship (minimum GPA: 3.5) will be invited to apply to the UHGSP during the Transfer Admissions period. Notifications regarding interview dates will be sent to students via their official TROY email. Invited applicants must submit a complete UHGSP application. Accepted transfer students will begin the UHGSP curriculum at the start of their second year, fulfilling the Year 2 program requirements.
UHGSP scholars engage in rigorous academic research that builds both depth and global awareness. Our coursework provides a foundation in research methods, cultural orientation and discipline-specific study, preparing scholars to explore complex global issues. Through faculty mentorship and hands-on research opportunities, you will develop the analytical and critical thinking skills needed to contribute meaningfully to any field.
Global experience is a key component of UHGSP. In addition to a cohort-based international trip, scholars are expected to complete at least one independent study abroad experience. Whether through exchange programs, research abroad or immersive learning opportunities, these experiences allow you to engage with diverse cultures, expand your academic horizons, and develop the skills necessary to navigate a diverse global landscape.
As a University Honors Global Scholars Program student, you'll engage in transformative global experiences that broaden your perspective and prepare you for leadership in a connected world.
Opportunities Through UHGSP:
UHGSP supports scholars in building a well-rounded skill set for success. These experiences help scholars develop the confidence and skills needed to thrive both personally and professionally. Opportunities for personal development include:
UHGSP encourages scholars to contribute to their communities through various service initiatives. Opportunities include those provided by the office of Civic Engagement:
Connecting Place to its Multitudes is a project that is funded the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation— the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities
A place is more than its physical location; it is shaped by its larger histories and cultures, as well as by the human affects associated with those encounters. Practitioners and performers in the arts and humanities are not just chroniclers but also interpreters of these human affects, exploring the intricate relationships between cultural meaning and social values. Arts can enrich the humanities by providing diverse mediums through which to explore human experiences. Through close reading and critical analysis of artistic expressions—such as literature, visual art, music, and performance— we gain deeper insights into historical contexts, social issues, and identity formation. This interdisciplinary approach fosters critical thinking, enhances creativity, and encourages empathy, allowing us to connect more profoundly with the complexities of the human condition. This project seeks to confront the dominant narrative of lack in Alabama by engaging with its diverse cultural productions in literature, music, dance, theater, and art to reveal and interpret the manifold experiences and emotions of its varied people. The project aims to deepen the understanding of Alabama's cultural identity to foster social justice through research, curriculum development, and community engagement.
The University Honors Program, in collaboration with the College of Communication and Fine Arts, leads this initiative.
Troy University has announced the inaugural members of the University Honors Global Scholars Council.
Appointed by Dr. Kerry Palmer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the seven-person council is comprised of faculty from each of TROY's five colleges with advisory members for Admissions and Study Abroad.
The Council will advise the program director on curriculum development, recruitment, policy and program evaluation for their respective colleges. Members help integrate Honors courses, promote the program and contribute to assessment and advocacy for Honors and global learning across the University.
“The formation of the University Honors Global Scholars Council marks a significant milestone in Troy University's commitment to academic excellence and global engagement,” Palmer said. “This council brings together a remarkable group of faculty leaders whose insight and dedication will shape a transformative experience for our top scholars—one that prepares them to lead, serve and innovate on a global stage.”
College of Arts and Humanities
Communications & Recognitions Lead
Jonny Farrow is a multimedia artist and Assistant Professor of Art & Design, known
for his sculptural, sound, printmaking, and installation work exploring themes like
memory, mythology, and the uncanny; and he brings extensive domestic and international
teaching experience to his position at Troy. His research and artistic output are
conceptually-driven, which feeds into an experimental approach to teaching 3D Studio and other art courses.
He has shown and presented work in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Sweden, United
Kingdom, Kuwait, and has had three solo and multiple group exhibits in the United Arab Emirates. From 2011-2016 he produced The Distract and
Disable Program for Wave Farm broadcast on WGXC 90.7 FM in Hudson, NY. His music and
sound works have been released by Hello CD, Dive Records, free103point9, and Must
Die Records. He was a founding member/songwriter in the 90's indie rock bands Philco
Bendyx and The Sixes and has performed with Moby on The Late Show with Conan O'Brien, as well as played his hand-built oscillators with Quintron and the Weather Warlock. Along with an MA in music from CCNY (CUNY), he holds an
MFA in Studio Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
College of Health Sciences
Community & Engagement Lead
Dr. James Meadows is always real by improving the lives of vulnerable populations
through teaching, research, and service. He serves as the Community Engagement lead on the Honors Council where he coordinates
speakers and activities to enrich the experience of students in the University Honors
Global Scholars Program. Dr. Meadows brings nearly two decades of human service and social work practice experience into the classroom including
experience as a vocational counselor, eligibility interviewer, adult protective case
investigator, and mental health care provider to help develop the next generation
of social workers. His areas of research are military-connected populations and populations
experiencing disability, particularly focused on military families where a non-service
member is experiencing a disability. This research stems from his lived experience
as a third generation US Air Force veteran and later the parent of a disabled person.
Troy University's Global Scholars Honors Program represents the best and brightest the University has to offer, and Dr. Priya Menon has now been named as its new leader.
A former Fulbright Scholar, Fulbright Scholar Alumni Legacy Ambassador and a professor in the English Department, Menon has spent the last 17 years at TROY.
“I am delighted that Dr. Priya Menon has agreed to lead our Global Scholars honors program here at Troy University,” said Dr. Kerry Palmer, Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “As a Fulbright Scholar and Ambassador, Dr. Menon will open doors for our students that they never thought possible. Our current college Global Scholars directors are outstanding and are to be commended for the great work they have done to get this program up and running. I am confident that Dr. Menon will take the success we have already enjoyed and propel this program into a new and exciting future.”
A distinct initiative focused on academic excellence and global curiosity, the Global Scholars Honors Program aims to integrate Troy University's existing QEP—Internationally Aware, Globally Prepared—the University Honors Program and TROY Abroad through a globally focused major-specific track within each of TROY's academic colleges.
With the official naming of an inaugural program director, the first steps have been taken to transitioning Global Scholars into an honors college.
