2025 SRHC Executive Committee Candidate Statements

VICE PRESIDENT

I am excited to submit my candidacy for the Vice President position on the Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC) Executive Committee. If elected, I will be both responsible and responsive to the diverse and shared interests of all members of SRHC. I appreciate that SRHC not only expands opportunities for students but also actively supports faculty and staff, fostering a collaborative space where we can exchange valuable insights and best practices to address common challenges and opportunities within our region.

I have been the Director of the Honors Program at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL, since 2022, following several years as an Assistant Professor and International & Summer Honors Coordinator at Broward College. My leadership experience includes serving as the President of the Florida Collegiate Honors Council (FCHC), where I successfully planned and hosted the 2024 FCHC Conference in Tampa. During my tenure, I also co-organized the first-ever Honors Teaching & Learning Mini-Conference, designed to enhance faculty and staff professional development throughout Florida’s honors community.

At the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), I am actively engaged in multiple roles, serving on the Assessment & Evaluation Committee and I am also a member of the Two- Year College Committee, advocating for increased representation and resources for community college honors programs. Additionally, I serve on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, working to ensure that honors education remains inclusive, equitable, and accessible to students from all backgrounds.

The opportunity to contribute to SRHC would be a natural extension of my passion for the education and personal growth of honors students, faculty, and staff alike. I am committed to advancing the goals of the organization, expanding the participation of two-year honors programs, and ensuring that all institutional members have a voice within SRHC’s activities and initiatives.

I would be honored to serve as Vice President and look forward to working alongside my colleagues to continue strengthening our honors community across the Southern region.

TREASURER

My name is Amy D’Unger and I am the Faculty Director of the Honors Program at Georgia Institute of Technology. I joined the Honors Program 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 Interim 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 would like to continue my service to SRHC in the capacity as treasurer and look forward to serving the constituent member institutions and their faculty, staff, and students.

FACULTY/STAFF AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

I am excited to submit my candidacy for the Faculty/Staff at Large position on the Southern Regional Honors Council. With a wealth of experience amassed over 15 years as the Honors College Director at Palm Beach State College, I have had the honor of guiding and mentoring over 800 honors students, aiding their successful transfer to top universities. In my most recent role as President of the Florida Collegiate Honors Council (2023-2024), I have gained invaluable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of honors education. My tenure allowed me to foster a vibrant community, collaborate with esteemed colleagues, and advocate for policies that benefit the honors community at large. Throughout my career, my unwavering dedication to student success and academic excellence has been the driving force behind my professional endeavors. The opportunity to contribute to the Southern Regional Honors Council would be a continuation of this passion. I am committed to advancing the goals of the council, supporting fellow educators, and enriching the educational experiences of honors students across the region. I would be thrilled and honored to be nominated for this position, and I am eager to bring my experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to the Southern Regional Honors Council. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of honors education.

STUDENT VICE-PRESIDENT

During the 2024-2025 academic year, I have had a wonderful time serving on the Southern Regional Honors Council as Student Vice President. I am honored to have assumed this position, and I hope to continue fostering community, networking, and communications in the year to come. I believe in promoting diversity and uncovering hidden stories through honors education promotion. If I am to serve as Student VP for the upcoming academic year, I will work with the incredible SRHC executive board to ensure the flow of our 2026 conference through creative planning and problem-solving. As Student VP this past year, I had the opportunity to attend the National Collegiate Honors Council 2024 conference, where I presented research and learned new methods to promote and implement education and diversity through honors. I intend to apply what I learned there in my position with SRHC in the year to come. I have been and will continue working hard at our social media initiative to encourage engagement and keep students up to date. I intend to promote holistic perspectives and provide new ideas to ensure these core principles are met to uphold the integrity of SRHC.

STUDENT AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

My name is Christian Smith, and I am vying to be your next Southern Regional Honors Council Student Vice-President for the 2025-2026 academic year. I am a third-year honors Kinesiology student attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

I am thrilled to run for this position and have the chance to lead and influence the direction of future events. I understand the issues that we as students may face on a daily basis and that I must remain consistent in my actions and show that I am reliable and dedicated to this role. Previously serving as the Community Service Chair of one organization and currently serving as the Chief of Staff of another organization, has given me experience and knowledge to effectively serve and represent the student body. As a member of these various leadership positions at my school, I am committed to upholding the values and responsibilities of this position. First and foremost, I believe that effective communication is a big part of carrying out this role successfully. I will actively listen to the concerns, ideas, and feedback of the student body and promote open lines of communication through the students, executive board, and staff. I will also advocate for positive change and guidance to enhance the experience of future conferences to come. With a few values of this position being responsibility, integrity, and leadership, I will approach this role with humility, empathy, and a genuine desire to positively impact our community.

STUDENT VICE-PRESIDENT

I’m a student at the University of Tampa, majoring in marketing, and running for the position for the SRHC Student Vice President for 2025-2026. As a presenter of the Southern Regional Honors Council, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where student researchers can thrive, collaborate, and make meaningful contributions to their fields. My experience as a researcher, presenter, and upcoming moderator at SRHC has given me firsthand insight into the importance of student engagement in academic discourse.

I am a proud member of the University of Tampa Honors College, an elite program that admits only the top 7% of students. My deep involvement in this program has granted me invaluable opportunities, such as being selected for the Disney Leadership Spring Break Program, volunteering to feed the homeless at the Portico Café, and chosen to attend this very conference. I have fully immersed myself in the honors program, relentlessly pursuing my goals and seizing every opportunity to grow academically and personally. Nonetheless, I intend to commit this same devotion and adoration to your executive committee.

My passion for research led me to conduct an independent study on the influence of social media advertisements, specifically from Sephora and Ulta, on adolescents’ makeup use. This project strengthened my analytical skills, deepened my understanding of media influence, and reinforced the importance of academic curiosity. As Student Vice President, I will work to amplify student voices, enhance networking opportunities, and ensure that SRHC continues to be a platform where innovative research is celebrated.

Additionally as a member of the UT Diplomats, we share the same core values of educating, motivating, and leading, aligning perfectly with the mission of the SRHC Executive Committee. I am fully committed to this role and will not hold back in providing not just my own voice and experiences, but in representing and advocating for all.

I am eager to contribute my leadership, organization, and communication skills to SRHC, hoping to only expand upon these personal values in a community that similarly cherishes these same objectives. I truly desire to advocate for student involvement and make the conference experience even more enriching. I would be honored to serve as your Student Vice President and help shape the future of SRHC for the 2025-26 term.

Thank you for your support!

STUDENT AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

My name is Addison Caravona and I am a second year student in the Honors Program at Eastern Kentucky University. In my two years as a part of the program, I have had the privilege of participating in many of our events. I have served as a student ambassador for our program during our “Honors Preview Day” and our “Accepted Students Day” multiple times, and I just served as a peer mentor this past August for our new incoming honors student “Honors Launch” orientation camp. I have been privileged this school year to serve alongside EKU faculty and administrators as a student representative on our Honors Advisory Council, in which we discuss the future of our program and how we can make it the best it can be. I attended our state-level honors conference (the Kentucky Honors Roundtable, or “KHR”) this past February and presented a research poster as well as an oral presentation. That was my first honors conference experience, and I was unsure at first of what to expect. After participating and having an amazing time, I discovered that my experience at KHR brought together so many of the things that I love most about honors education. I would like to continue my honors experience by being a student at-large representative for the Southern Regional Honors Conference this year. As someone who has travelled all over the world as a military child, I believe I can provide valuable insight and new ideas. I am eager to serve my fellow students and represent my university through SRHC.

STUDENT AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

I am Basira Ayazi, a current freshman and a member of Truist Honor Scholars at Central Piedmont Community College. During my time in the honors program, I have had the opportunity to meet many new people and join different events. As such, they are taking honor courses, joining in meetings and discussing different sociological and psychological topics, and conducting research and presenting in the National Association of African American and Affiliates Studies (NAAAS & Affiliates) 2025 conference. This was my first time participating in an academic conference as well as researching in an academic environment, which was a big achievement for me and a new step to learn more about the world and available opportunities. I believe becoming the student-at-large representative in the Southern Regional Honors Conference can help me to use my experience of being an honors student as well as teaching me more and adding to this experience. As a student at-large representative, I will make sure to be the voice for all other honor students, including my fellow Truist Honor Scholars in Central Piedmont. 

STUDENT AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

My name is Amal Ahmed, and I’m an international student from Somalia. I’m currently a sophomore in the Honors Program at Catawba College, and I’m really excited to be running for the position of Student Representative At-Large for the SRHC. This will be my first academic conference with SRHC, and I can’t wait to connect with all of you and be a part of this amazing community.

At Catawba College, I’m involved with the Honors Council, where I get the chance to work closely with my peers and really immerse myself in the Catawba family. I’m passionate about sharing perspectives from my background and experiences, and I believe this helps me see things in a different light. If I’m lucky enough to be elected, I would bring that diversity and perspective, and I’d also work hard to make sure that everyone feels heard and valued in our community.

I know this role comes with a lot of responsibility, and I’m ready to take it on. My goal is to always push for inclusivity and continuous improvement, making sure that we’re all moving forward together. I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to the SRHC, and I’m looking forward to working with all of you to make this experience even better for everyone.