SGA welcomes Christopher Hood as their 100th President

Troy University Marketing and Communications held four workshop sessions on April 6 and 7 for Troy faculty and staff. 

The workshop focused on how to efficiently use the new Troy brand identity by equipping faculty and staff with the necessary tools to communicate the Troy story. 

Matt Clower, senior director of communications, explained the meaning behind the campaign “All Ways Real. Always Troy.”

“The goal was to try to figure out what the core of the Troy story is,” Clower said. “One of the things that came out was valuing authenticity that students today are looking for – a real experience.” 

Sohail Agboatwala, senior vice chancellor for student affairs, shared how the workshop would support the broader mission of Troy. 

“This is one place where we brought all the true stories about our student experiences and are putting them out there, and the goal is for future students to know that you too can get there from here,” Agboatwala said. “Behind every student there is a story, and who better than the faculty and staff who have developed those students to know what the student came from and where they have gone.” 

Main points of the workshop included brand identity and messaging framework, campaign strategy, effective visuals, brand standards on AI and how to collaborate with Marketing and Communications through the Helpdesk system to support Troy University goals. 

Dr. Priya Menon, English professor and director of the University Honors Global Scholars Program, attended one of the sessions and shared her perspective. 

“The campaign that they put out was just stunning, so when they gave us an opportunity to come back and learn more, that was an exciting opportunity,” Menon said. “[The honors program] is very new, so tools such as this will go a long way in ensuring that we attract the right students into the program. 

“I see myself tapping into it very often as the program is shaped and developed.” 

The workshop also highlighted how the brand strengthens recruitment, enhances reputation and supports engagement across each part of Troy. 

Clower shared how success will be measured from this workshop. 

“I think for us, it would just be whether we see a better buy-in or an uptick in people submitting Helpdesk tickets and taking advantage of our resources, and do we feel like there’s just a good across-the-university understanding of our mission,” Clower said. 

Agboatwala shared a few closing words on the overarching goal. 

“Everything we do, the student is at the center and everything we do is to tell their stories,” Agboatwala said. “We also serve a very non-traditional audience like the military, working adults trying to get ahead and non-completers of degrees in the past, so I want all of them to know, there’s a place for you at Troy.”