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.

“Our goal is to cultivate a select cohort of academically exceptional, culturally curious and highly motivated scholars who demonstrate a passion for intellectual growth, innovation, exemplary leadership and a commitment to community service,” Menon said. “Through rigorous coursework, undergraduate research, internships and travel abroad opportunities, we aim to prepare these students to become informed, effective and influential leaders and contributors to an ethical society.”

Menon earned her Master of Arts in English Literature in 1997 and a Bachelor of Education in English Education in 1998 from Calicut University. In 2005, she earned her Master of Education in English Education from then-named Troy State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Literary Studies from Georgia State University (GSU) in 2011.

Menon began her teaching career as a lecturer at Oman Medical College in 2001 before becoming a graduate teaching assistant at GSU in 2005. She arrived at TROY in 2007 as an assistant professor, eventually becoming associate professor and has been a professor since 2021. Just two years into her career at TROY, she was awarded the 2008-2009 Ingalls Award, an annual honor for the Troy Campus teacher recognized for diligent, effective, and cheerful class conduct.

She has also served as Co-Program Director of the pilot project for Alabama Humanities Foundation’s “Great Books Reading Initiative” for Alabama Correctional Facilities in 2015; the NEA Big Read project (2014-15); and as the Coordinator of the Quality Enhancement Plan’s Faculty Development Initiative (2012-15) at TROY.

In 2018, she traveled to the Center for Development Studies in Kerala, India, as a Visiting Research Professor for the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship, and in 2022 was selected to a two-year appointment as a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador.

“My distinctive work with the Fulbright Scholar Program—which has also exposed me to the academic values and the functioning of high achieving students and faculty of other competitive institutions—has been seminal in my interest in our Global Scholars Honors Program,” Menon said. “As a Fulbright Ambassador, I have communicated with internal and external communities about the program, championed its potential and advocated for it at various venues, including Capitol Hill, which I hope to mirror for the Global Scholars Honors Program at my own alma mater, TROY.”

In addition to holding multiple Fulbright leadership positions, Menon is currently serving as Mentor for the Mentorship Advising Program at the Institute of International Education in Washington, D.C.; Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow at TROY; Member of Faculty Senate at TROY; and Elected Member to the Board of Studies at St. Joseph’s College, Calicut University, India among many others.

“With Troy University’s ongoing progress to becoming an R2 research institution, there is a new energy and a renewed focus on academic excellence. This creates exceptional opportunities to enhance TROY’s academic reputation by engaging with both the Fulbright Student Program and other prestigious merit scholarships,” she said. “With our talented students, distinguished faculty and strong administrative leadership, TROY is well positioned to lead in advancing research, innovation and academic excellence on a global scale—truly an exciting time to be a Trojan.”

For more information and to stay up-to-date on changes within the Global Scholars Honors Program, visit here.