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.”

This collaborative leadership ensures that the program provides a distinctive, high-impact experience for Troy University’s top scholars, said Dr. Priya Menon, Professor, Director of University Honors Global Scholars Program.

“I am honored to welcome this group of exceptional faculty to the inaugural council,” she said. “Their leadership and expertise will be vital as we expand our honors curriculum, elevate student support, and deepen global engagement—ensuring that we cultivate the best and brightest at TROY with intention. I look forward to partnering with them as they support their respective colleges and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a thriving honors community at TROY.”

The appointed faculty include:

Dr. Bruno Costa, College of Arts and Sciences. Costa earned his Ph. D. in physics from the University of British Columbia. He earned his Master of Science in Physics from Universidade de São Paulo, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree. Costa joined the Center for Relativity and Cosmology as at TROY Assistant Professor in 2024. In addition to serving as the college’s liaison, he will also serve as the Council’s Curriculum and Pedagogy lead.

Dr. Clint Relyea, Sorrell College of Business. Relyea has an Ed.D. from Arkansas State University and has completed course work at the University of Mississippi and the University of South Carolina. Relyea serves as the Director of the Sorrell Global Scholars Program and is Associate Professor of Management. He has taught on six continents and traveled to over 80 countries in his career. His primary area of teaching is in international business. He is a member of the peer accreditation team of the Network of International Business Schools and serves on several editorial boards. He is a board member and officer of the Troy Resiliency Project and volunteers at the food pantry in Troy. Alongside his role as college liaison for the UHGSP, Ralyea will lead the Council’s efforts in Assessment and Global Proficiency.

Dr. James Meadows, College of Health Science. Meadows serves as Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Human Services and 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. 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. His teaching experience includes courses in human behavior in the social environment, social policy, the history of social welfare, direct practice evaluation, social work with military families, and social work practice with groups. In addition to serving as his college’s liaison, he will also serve as the Council’s Community & Engagement lead.

Mr. Jonny Farrow, College of Communication and Fine Arts. Farrow serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Design. He has shown and presented work in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Vermont, Sweden, United Kingdom, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He has had three solo shows since 2016 and multiple group exhibits in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere since 2014. He was a founding member/songwriter in the 90s indie rock bands Philco Bendyx and The Sixes. Farrow has performed with Moby on The Late Show with Conan O’Brien, as well as played his handbuilt oscillators with Quintron and the Weather Warlock. Along with a bachelor’s degree from Troy University, he also holds a master’s degree in music from CCNY (CUNY), and a master’s in studio art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to serving as his college’s liaison, he will also serve as the Council’s Communications and Recognitions lead.

Dr. Samantha Booker, College of Education. Booker is the Assistant Chair of the Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Interpreter Training Program and the Coordinator of the School Counseling Program and the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program. She is a certified PK-12 school counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Alabama, an infant family specialist and a private practitioner. She is also a certified DC: 0-5 Trainer and infant mental health reflective supervisor. Her research interests include birth to five training for practitioners, prevention and intervention techniques with PK-12 students, and school counselors’ role in early intervention. She will serve not only as her college’s liaison but also as the Council’s Student Support lead.

The advisory members of the Council were selected from the College of Health Sciences and the College of Communication and Fine arts to support student recruitment, advising and admissions and the Study Abroad experience.

Advisory members include:

Dr. Lesley Parrish, faculty advisor for Admissions. Parrish will coordinate recruitment, admissions and student onboarding initiatives for the program. She is an Assistant Professor and the Interprofessional Health Science program coordinator in the School of Allied Health under the College of Health Sciences. She is a licensed physical therapist that has dedicated 20+ years of clinical practice to the art of caring for individuals with orthopedic and sports medicine injuries. Her focus has been in sports medicine with specialization in movement assessment, injury prevention and rehabilitation of orthopedic injuries. She received her Ph.D. in Health Science from Faulkner University, her DPT from Belmont University and her Bachelors degree from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Johanna Alberich, faculty advisor for Study Abroad. Alberich will facilitate cohort travel and global immersion experiences for the program. She is an Associate Professor of Spanish, specializing in 20th-century Caribbean Literature and Spanish Linguistics, under the College of Communication and Fine Arts. Embracing interdisciplinary research, she has published research with Troy University’s nursing and library programs. Alberich also served as editor for the popular independent comic book, “Hamilton vs. Burr: A Werewolf Tale.” She is also heavily involved in TROY’s study abroad initiative, facilitating the enrichment of over 200 students through trips to Costa Rica, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

About the University Honors Global Scholars Program

Evolving from the existing Global Scholars Program, the University Honors Global Scholars Program (UHGSP) is a new program designed to challenge the best of the best through specialized coursework and a study abroad research project. This new initiative falls under the broader framework of the University Honors Program

Through leadership development, community engagement, international study opportunities, peer mentorship, an advanced honors curriculum and specialized coursework, students gain the skills and perspective needed to succeed in graduate studies, professional careers and beyond.

Additional benefits of the University Honors Global Scholars Program include small class sizes, graduation distinctions, membership to the University Honors Alliance, publication and showcase opportunities, special events and networking, early registration and more.

For more information on the program, please contact Dr. Priya Menon at honors@troy.edu.