Five Troy University employees are taking part in a fellowship program designed to increase their understanding of the range and scope of the University and enhance their knowledge of higher education in Alabama.

Dr. Troy A. Coppus, Dr. Shannon Dadd, Mrs. Bre Gentry, Dr. Priya Menon and Dr. Kelly Suero were the latest class to be selected to participate in the Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Fellows Program at Troy University.

The Fellows were nominated by TROY deans, directors or vice chancellors. The program spans two academic semesters and participants will take part in briefings and meetings and be mentored by TROY Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., the University’s Senior Vice Chancellors and other members of the administrative leadership. Many Chancellor’s Fellows from previous years now hold positions as Vice Chancellors, Associate Vice Chancellors, Deans, Associate Deans, Program Directors, Department Chairs and other key positions.

As their special project, the fellows are coordinating the University’s Helen Keller Lecture.

“The Chancellor’s Fellows Program is an impactful experience where emerging university leaders are given a behind-the-scenes view of higher education administration and the opportunity to hear from various leaders across campus,” said Lauren S. Cole, Executive Director for the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success and a 2016 Chancellor’s Fellow. “Members of this year’s Fellows Program have learned about leadership and operations of departments and divisions across the university from distinguished leaders in areas ranging from Academics, Human Resources, Athletics, Student Services, and more. We hope that each participant learns more about the operations of our great university and that this experience inspires and equips them to emerge into greater leadership roles over time.”

Dr. Coppus, an Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Athletic Training program, began his work with TROY’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion in 2021. Prior to Troy University, he spent 14 years at the University of Evansville, first in a dual appointment as a staff athletic trainer and a faculty member and later as a full-time faculty member. He has also worked as a part-time industrial sports medicine provider for Briotix Health. He received his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Ohio Northern University, a graduate degree in Sport Studies from High Point University, and earned his Doctor of Education in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. He has been a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer and NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist since 2004.

Dr. Dadd has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education since 2018. She also serves as a program coordinator of secondary and P-12 programs. She holds the Alabama Class A Professional Educator Certificate, the Dimensions of Success Certification and the National Certificate for STEM Teaching. Dr. Dadd earned her Bachelor of Science in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology (2013), Master of Education in General Science Education (2014) and Doctorate of Education in General Science Education (2019), all from Auburn University. Prior to joining the TROY faculty, she served as a professor at Southern Union State Community College from 2016-2018. She is a member of the National Science Teacher Association and Pre-Service Director of the Alabama Science Teacher Association.

Mrs. Gentry serves as the Director for the Center of Student Success on TROY’s Montgomery Campus, as well as the Title III Project Director. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member. She has previously served the University as a Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Student Success Specialist and a Student Facilitator. Gentry is a member of the Grant Professionals Association and the National Academic Advising Association and a past member of the National College Learning Center Association. She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery’s Torchbearers Program and was awarded the 2022 Professional Employee Excellence Award and the 2018 Classified Employee Excellence Award at TROY’s Montgomery Campus. Gentry is active in community theatre and has appeared in numerous plays and musicals in Montgomery, Millbrook and Prattville.

Dr. Menon is a Professor of English and leads the University’s Honors Global Scholars Program. Menon is a former Fulbright Scholar, a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Legacy Ambassador, and a recent Mellon Foundation grant recipient. She has been a member of the TROY faculty since 2007. She began her teaching career as a lecturer at Oman Medical College before becoming a graduate teaching assistant at GSU. Menon earned a Bachelor’s degree in English, a Bachelor’s in English education and a Master’s degree in English Literature, all from Calicut University. In 2005, she earned her Master of Education in English Education from TROY. She earned her Ph.D. in Literary Studies from Georgia State University in 2011. She is a past recipient of TROY’s Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.

Dr. Suero is Chair of TROY’s World Languages and Cultures Department. She joined the department in August 2014 and previously served as a research assistant at Purdue University. Dr. Suero earned her bachelor’s degree, majoring in both English and Spanish, from Oklahoma State University. She earned her master’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature and her Ph.D. in Spanish American Literature from Purdue. After graduating from high school, she spent a year in Argentina as a part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Since joining the TROY faculty, she has organized study abroad trips to Argentina to share the country’s culture with her students. In 2019, Dr. Suero was the recipient of TROY’s Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.