Hawkins' final Chancellor's Fellows announced

Five Troy University faculty and staff members have been selected for the 2026-27 Chancellor’s Fellows Program, forming Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr.’s final cohort before his retirement.

The new fellows are Heidi Beattie, Amanda Dunagan, Byungkwan Jung, Scott Sexton and Korrie Lynn Williamson.

The program gives faculty and staff an opportunity to learn about university operations while developing leadership skills. Fellows are nominated by university leaders and attend meetings and briefings with administrators before completing a study addressing an area of the university.

Lauren Cole, executive director of the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success, participated in the program in 2016-17 and now directs it.

“It was a really good holistic look at the university, kind of as an emerging leader, if you will,” Cole said.

Cole said the program exposed her to areas of the university she interacted with but had not seen from an administrative perspective.

This year’s fellows have not yet selected a project, but Cole said possible topics include artificial intelligence, the university’s relationship with the City of Troy and general studies.

Sexton, an assistant professor of music education and assistant director of the John M. Long School of Music, said the group has also discussed helping faculty better understand enrollment and recruiting.

Sexton said he is particularly interested in how universities use AI.

“How can we use it as a learning tool, and how can we embrace it?” Sexton said. “It’s here and it’s part of our life, so how can we best use it in higher ed?”

Sexton said he did not expect to become a Chancellor’s Fellow this early in his higher education career and was honored to be nominated.

Sexton grew up in Troy and earned his undergraduate degree from Troy University before eventually returning to teach.

“I think for this group, I can bring a long working knowledge of our community and the university because I’ve been around it for so long,” Sexton said.

Previous Fellows worked on projects involving the Helen Keller Lecture Series, student mental health resources and study abroad policies.

Cole said including the personnel affected by a project early helps ensure the work can continue after the Fellows complete the program. Last year’s group, for example, worked with study abroad staff as it developed recommendations for policy changes.

“You want to do that with partners, not for the partners,” Cole said.

This year’s group will be the final cohort under Hawkins, who is set to retire in 2027.

Sexton, who said he has watched the university grow throughout his life, said being part of Hawkins’ final cohort is particularly meaningful.

“There’s just been so much improvement and development,” Sexton said. “I know we Fellows will have so much to learn from him.”

The future of the Chancellor’s Fellows Program after Hawkins’ retirement has not been determined.

“We really don’t know what that means for the future, if a future chancellor will continue or not,” Cole said.

For more information about the Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Fellows Program, visit the Chancellor’s Office section of Troy University’s website.