TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University hosted its first-ever cohort of Mellon Fellows, made possible through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The fellowship highlights cultural productions across Alabama, including art, literature, music, and theater. The inaugural cohort included six fellows, two students, two faculty members, and two community fellows, all selected through a competitive application process at Troy University.

“The project that I’m embarking on will help us take the artwork that exists in the Troy permanent collection and use that as a means not just of creating visual interest among our spaces, but also as a means of creating a conduit to understanding where we live, the histories that have come from where we live and how we interact as communities,” Assistant Professor of Art and Design Will Jacks said.

“After all is said and done I expect to have my name out there for the work that I’ve put in for it and also have more people know about the research that I’m going to tell about and also make small cities and Alabama more known,” said Tyquavious Hurley, a Mellon Fellow.

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Monday morning, the group had a meeting with university leadership, including Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. about the initiative and their goals for the university.

Materials created through the fellowship will be archived in the university library as well as the Alabama Department of Archives & History, which helps preserve Alabama’s cultural legacy for future generations.