Sorrell Society aims at building global leaders through new program

In a move that looks to strengthen Troy University’s position on the global academic stage, the Sorrell Society of International Fellows is drawing international attention for its dynamic approach to leadership, diplomacy and cross-cultural scholarship within the Sorrell College of Business.  

As a successor to the Global Scholars program, the newly-integrated Sorrell Society of International Fellows helps to expose students interested in international relations to a wide array of opportunities.  

“The Sorrell Society of International Fellows represents a strategic initiative undertaken by the Sorrell College of Business, aimed at identifying and nurturing the most academically gifted students to become global business leaders and conscientious global citizens,” said Director of Sorrell Society of International Fellows and Associate Professor Dr. Clint Relyea. 

Fellow selection is established by standardized testing scores, as well as an application that must be completed before a student’s freshman year begins. However, that is set to change in the upcoming academic year.  

All future incoming freshmen will need to have a 3.4 GPA, as well as a minimum score of 26 on the ACT in order to be selected for the program.  

After incoming students are accepted into the society, they are required to begin an introductory freshman seminar that prepares them for the world of global business and its principles.  

“Every student who joins the Sorrell Society is required to take a course called The Global Challenge,” said Savannah Burg, a senior business major from Livingston, Alabama. “In this class, we are encouraged to open our minds, hearts, hands and eyes to the world, looking beyond stereotypes and prejudices to work toward lasting solutions for global issues.” 

The seminar is the tip of the iceberg for active members as there are many other facets of experience and possibilities open to them.  

The Sorrell Society of International Fellows also offers short-term and semester-long study abroad excursions, cultural immersion trips, corporate engagement with a focus on multinational business operations, as well as a final capstone class.  

This month, fellows traveled to Mobile, Alabama to meet with Chamber of Commerce officials and tour Airbus, a United States assembly site for commercial airplanes.  

Mexico, New York City and southern Alabama are just a few of the destinations the fellows have traveled to thus far. Non-first-year members will travel to Europe soon, as well. 

During each fellow’s junior or senior year, an internship and a semester abroad are required in order to complete the requirements expected of them. A medallion is also awarded after successful completion of the program. 

As this year’s cohort continues to collaborate and achieve objectives set forth by the society, their academic and professional experiences also translate to their personal goals and everyday lives.  

“The most important personal impact this society has made for me is the accountability I now hold myself to,” said Tucker Bryant, a sophomore global business major from Dothan, Alabama. “Being part of a program that requires and resembles excellence forces me to maintain these standards to uplift the program. 

“This allows me to stay on top of my grades, my reputation, my commitment to the school and all things that may influence how my surroundings view me and my association with the society.”  

The completion of the Sorrell Society of International Fellows program marks a crucial moment in members' lives as they navigate the fast-paced world of global entrepreneurship. Cross-cultural immersion is believed to be the foundation in succeeding in the society’s mission. 

“The most impactful learning experiences of other cultures is through immersion and consistent and repeated interactions with new, unique people and situations,” said Caden Whitt, a sophomore economics major from Springville, Alabama.  

As the Sorrell Society of International Fellows continues to evolve, it continues to shape a new generation of global international business leaders by preparing students for the demands of the interconnected world. 

“While the Sorrell Society of International Fellows is a young program; I believe it has great potential,” Whitt said. “We have a fantastic base to build upon, via the old Sorrell Scholars program, and an even greater group of [current] students.”