SRHC Executive Committee Candidates 2026

I have served as Honors Director for nearly four years and have taught in honors programs for well over a decade. In both my administrative work and my leadership courses, I emphasize the principles of servant leadership—an approach that has shaped how I show up for students, colleagues, and the broader honors community. 

One of the strengths of SRHC is the willingness of faculty and administrators to invest their time and expertise in service roles like this one. I have been an active participant at both NCHC and SRHC conferences, and I look forward to supporting the 2027 SRHC conference in Orlando. 

With the addition of an Executive Director in recent years, SRHC has already taken meaningful steps toward strengthening its infrastructure and long‑term stability. Looking ahead, I believe we have an opportunity to further enhance support for new honors directors across the region, helping them build confidence, community, and clarity as they step into their roles. I would welcome the chance to contribute to this work and to continue serving the SRHC community.

I serve as dean of the Honors College at Georgia College & State University and was previously Dean for Curriculum & Honors at Elizabethtown College in southcentral Pennsylvania. For the last three years, I have served as Executive Secretary for SRHC, and I would like to stand for election for another three-year term. 

Building on more than twenty years of committee service at different universities and with numerous community organizations, I have collaborated effectively and collegially with fellow members of the Executive Board, taken thorough minutes of both board meetings and general business meetings, and updated SRHC’s contact list each year. 

In terms of broad initiatives, the board’s decision to hire a paid executive director has been especially significant. I take no credit for the idea, which started with other board members, but deliberating on the position and its responsibilities was meaningful work. And having an executive director has had a positive impact on the dynamism of SRHC. Looking to the future, I would like to collaborate with colleagues at NCHC on updates to our membership list and outreach to institutions in our region that have Honors colleges/programs but that are not yet members of SRHC.

My name is Amy D’Unger and I am the Faculty Director of the John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) at Georgia Institute of Technology. I joined the JMHP in 2022 after 17 years in the School of History and Sociology at Georgia Tech and six years in the Department of Sociology at Emory University.  

I currently serve as the President of the Georgia Collegiate Honors Council (GCHC) and the Treasurer of the Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC) . I have thoroughly enjoyed my transition to honors education and have received a tremendous amount of support from colleagues I have met through GCHC, SRHC, and the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). 

Upon becoming the Interim Treasurer of SRHC in November 2024 I began the process of learning the policies and processes involved in being a good steward of the financial resources of the membership. I was elected to a one-year Treasurer position in 2025 and would like to continue my service to SRHC in the capacity as Treasurer for another three-year term.  

I look forward to serving the constituent member institutions and their faculty, staff, and students, improving process efficiency for SRHC finances, and developing new ways to use SRHC resources to support events and programming. I strive to be an active, engaged, collaborative member of the Executive Board and to contribute to holistic board development. Thank you!

Greetings! I am excited to stand for election as an at-large board member for SRHC to use my experience in leadership, Honors, and undergraduate research programming to support student success across our region. I currently serve as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Honors at the University of North Georgia. In this role, I provide leadership for our Honors Program, Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, McNair Scholars, and Nationally Competitive Scholarships Office. I also serve as the interim director of UNG’s Leadership Foundry initiative. Each office provides opportunities that help students excel both within and beyond the classroom. 

Outside of UNG, I have served on both regional and national committees, including previously serving as the President of both the Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective and the Georgia Collegiate Honors Council, both of which gave me the great pleasure of planning state-wide conferences. I also hosted the on-line “COVID” version of the MELUS society’s conference in 2021 (I currently serve MELUS Treasurer), and I have participated in planning for the National Association of Fellowship Advisors biennial conference over the past two years. I love planning conferences! 

I am eager to work closely with SRHC to learn more about its processes and procedures as well as different approaches to Honors education. I look forward to collaborating with and learning from fellow board members to ensure SRHC continues to be a robust, forward-looking institution that supports every Honors student in the region through engaging events and programming.

I am an international student from Nepal, majoring in Finance at Morehead State University (MSU). I am a sophomore who has been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA on a full-ride scholarship granted by MSU’s Honors Program.  

My international student journey has been defined by three core values which I intend to bring to the SRHC Board. My leadership abilities have been proven through my activities in both academic and extracurricular environments. I organized two high school Think Tank (Business) Club events while serving as President and Vice President of the organization in Nepal. Currently, I hold multiple university positions, which include Student Advisory Board Member, Mathematics Tutor, Director of Outreach and Marketing for a research lab where I work to engage students with academic initiatives while meaningfully contributing to the organization's growth.  My experience presenting research at five conferences (which includes SRHC) has given me firsthand insight into the organization’s impact and potential. As the only international student presenter from my institution at four events, I have developed the ability to express different student perspectives with both confidence and precision.  

The main objective behind my nomination centers on two goals, which combine to promote better student involvement while improving communication between SRHC leaders and international students, who I think are pretty underrepresented. I will serve as an active and dependable representative who thinks about future developments while delivering valuable contributions to this organization.  I feel prepared to serve as a leader who will contribute meaningfully through my diverse perspectives.

I am currently a member of the SRHC Executive Committee, serving as a Student-at-Large representative. I have deeply appreciated my experience on the committee. It has exposed me to many different perspectives and helped me feel included and connected as a student. This role pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to be more engaged in the SRHC community. 

I am running again for the same position because I want to continue building on this experience and further develop my leadership skills. At my college, I am involved in several clubs, including the Environmental Club, Black Student Union, African Student Association, and International Club. Being part of these diverse organizations has strengthened my connection to the campus community and allowed me to support and engage with a wide range of student groups.

As a current Honors Ambassador and student liaison, I regularly bridge communication between students and administration, ensuring student concerns are clearly represented and addressed. Additionally, as Co-Chair of the Cheatham-White Scholarship Program Executive Committee, I lead initiatives that foster engagement, peer mentorship, and support for a diverse cohort of scholars, along with maintaining organization and efficiency across all committees and leads. What makes me a strong candidate is my demonstrated commitment to both excellence and service. I am a recipient of competitive academic scholarships, maintain strong academic standing, and have led award-winning engineering and social impact projects. Beyond achievement, I consistently create pathways for others; mentoring peers, engaging in policy conversations, and building initiatives centered on empowerment/representation. 

I am guided by the belief that leadership must be principled and practical, meaning that this role would strengthen my ability to lead with clarity, discipline, and a long-term commitment to expanding opportunity, to leave not just with credentials, but with confidence, purpose, and a stronger identity within the legacy I want to leave, where excellence is cultivated intentionally, and where you are encouraged to grow. If elected, my goals are to amplify student engagement across institutions, expanding access and strengthening intercollegiate collaboration. I am particularly excited to help plan impactful, student-centered programming at the annual SRHC conference that fosters connection and idea exchange. Ultimately, I am committed to elevating student voices, strengthening communication between leadership and membership, and helping build a more connected and dynamic honors community throughout the Southern region.

I would like to be a Student Representative of SRHC because I want to be a strong voice for students amd this conference and help make sure everyone's ideas and concerns are heard. I have leadership experience through serving in my City Council's youth sector, as president of 6 clubs in highschool, management positions within productions for my local theatres, and leader roles within my work, such as becoming a teacher at a daycare at seventeen years old. These roles were more than titles. They have taught me how to balance compassion for people with rules and regulations, always finding the way to best help my community. 

My strengths include responsibility, task orientation, creativity, and empathy. I understand that leadership is not just about speaking up, but also about listening to others and placing them at the forefront of my actions. I am someone who takes commitments seriously and works hard to support the people I represent, as they are the reason for my title. 

If elected, my goal would be to strengthen and support communication and visibility between students and representatives of the SRHC, make students feel more comfortable sharing their perspectives, and ensure that student concerns are taken seriously. I want to help support a connected and supportive environment where students feel included in decisions for this conference so it's the most enjoyable experience for all involved. I believe I am qualified for this position because of my leadership experience, dedication to service, and commitment to representing others.

I am honored to apply for the Student Representative position. I truly value the community and development that the Southern Regional Honors Conference provides for students. As a student leader, I have learned how important it is for honors students, not only to attend programs, but also to create, explore, and be challenged. 

My leadership journey has included serving as Director of Mentoring and now Chief of Staff for my university’s Honors Council. I also participated in Student Government and Royal Court, where I helped lead initiatives focused on student engagement and building meaningful connections. Additionally, I served as a Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) Leader, where I helped manage and support the transition of over 1,700 incoming students. This experience strengthened my ability to organize large-scale programming, communicate effectively, and genuinely serve our student population. 

Through these experiences, I have developed strengths in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving while learning to lead with professionalism and adaptability. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to connect with people in an engaging and inclusive way so that students feel comfortable participating. My goal as a Student Representative would be to strengthen connections between institutions, increase student involvement, and ensure that student voices remain central to conference planning. I am especially passionate about helping students see themselves as part of a larger honors community beyond their own campus. I am grateful for the opportunity to help students make the most of their honors experience. Thank you for your consideration!

I have built my college experience around leadership, service, and community. Through my involvement in multiple student organizations, I have taken on roles that have challenged me to lead, collaborate, and create spaces where students feel comfortable engaging and being themselves.

What I value most in honors is the sense of connection it can create. Being part of honors at two different institutions has shown me how much stronger these communities are when students feel included, supported, and encouraged to actively participate. I care about building environments where people feel both challenged and comfortable enough to contribute their ideas.

As a Student At Large Representative of SRHC, I want to help strengthen those connections across institutions and create more opportunities for students to engage beyond their own campuses. I am especially interested in making sure students feel represented at a regional level and that honors spaces reflect the diversity and experiences of the students within them.

I am someone who follows through, communicates effectively, and takes pride in doing things well. I approach leadership with intention, and I am committed to contributing in a way that is both thoughtful and impactful. I am ready to step into this role and make a meaningful impact from day one.

My name is Matthew Thomae, and I am an Honors and Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Originally born in Germany and mostly raised in Tennessee, I began at Bryan College (where I played soccer) before transferring to UTC and joining the honors community! This background has greatly shaped my perspective as both a transfer student and an engaged member of the honors community.   I have extensive experience coordinating diverse groups and representing student perspectives, including as a UTC Honors Ambassador, treasurer for the UTC Chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Innovation in Honors team lead. Through these roles, I have learned to listen carefully first and then advocate effectively for student needs, while fostering environments where people can feel informed, included, and empowered! Beyond campus leadership, my experiences in project management and interdisciplinary research have strengthened my ability to translate complex and abstract ideas into meaningful outcomes. I consistently bring a structured and solutions-oriented mindset to collaborative discussions and planning sessions.  If selected for the SRHC Board, my primary goal is to strengthen year-round student engagement, fostering opportunities for us to meet and collaborate beyond the annual conference. I believe that innovation is best done collaboratively, and I look forward to helping expand support for undergraduate research in the region.   Thank you for considering me for the position! I would be honored to serve the SRHC community with energy, professionalism, and a strong commitment to advocating for my fellow students.

I am honored to announce my nomination to become a Student Representative for the Southern Regional Honors Council. I truly value the sense of community, leadership, and growth that Honors organizations create, and I am passionate about helping students fully engage in those opportunities. Being a part of my Honors program has been integral to my success, which is why I am passionate about strengthening and enhancing Honors programs everywhere. Through my leadership, I have developed a strong appreciation for both representing and enhancing the honors experience.  As an Honors Ambassador, I help prospective students understand the importance and impact of being part of an Honors College while also working closely with honors staff to strengthen and improve our program. In addition, I serve as a leader of multiple committees within the Cheatham-White Scholars Program, including Personal Wellness and Social Media, where I help create initiatives that promote engagement, well-being, and connection among scholars.  Through these experiences, I have developed strengths in communication, collaboration, and organization. I truly value creating inclusive environments, and I take pride in being dependable and intentional in my leadership.  As a Student Representative, my goal is to ensure that student voices remain central while supporting the mission and vision of SRHC in all decisions. I am eager to contribute to the organization’s strategic direction, support its fiscal and organizational responsibility, and help develop initiatives that strengthen collaboration across institutions.  Thank you for your consideration, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve!

I have obtained many distinct roles throughout my college career such as a President Ambassador, Peer Mentor, & student representative on the Presidential Search Committee. I have siamotainously been an honors student at both my community college as well as my four-year university while all being a nontraditional student.  My strengths vary from amazing leadership roles to effective communication skills. I am extremely hard working and have a keen sense of engagement! I am passionate as well as understanding and innovative!  I would love to gain the opportunity to represent other students who are like myself. I am a nontraditional student, and it is sometimes difficult to see myself in various positions as many representatives are traditional students. By having the opportunity to join would help diversify the committee offering a unique perspective!