About Us

The Honors & Scholars Department is housed in Student Academic Engagement and Success

SMU offers an extensive range of Honors and Scholars programs for SMU students. Those contained in the Honors & Scholars department are: the Hilltop Scholars Program, the Rotunda Scholars Program, the University Honors Program, the Mustang Scholars Program, and the President’s Scholars Program. Our dynamic programs are designed to provide unique academic opportunities, interdisciplinary seminars, and hands-on activities that will immediately challenge and expand your thinking. With a focus on academic enrichment, our programs offer a diverse array of experiences that will engage and inspire you.

For more information, contact Program Coordinator, Alexandra Thibeaux: 214-768-2508

Faculty & Staff

Headshot, Dr. David D. Doyle. David wears a tweed jacket over a blue and white striped shirt. He wears a beige and brown spotted bow tie and circular tortoise shell glasses.

Dr. David D. Doyle

Dean, Honors & Scholars Programs
Director, University Honors Program
214-768-2813

Dr. David D. Doyle was raised in northern New Hampshire and graduated from Plymouth State College in New Hampshire with a degree in History. A Master's Degree in American History followed from New York University. Working with historians Martin Duberman, David Nasaw, and Randolph Trumbach, Dr. Doyle completed the Ph.D. in American History from the City University of New York. His fields of interest within American History are the study of gender and sexuality and he is currently at work on a book examining male sexuality in late nineteenth century New York and New England. He has published reviews and articles in Reviews in American History, The Journal of the History of Sexuality, and the American Historical Association Lesbian Gay History Newsletter

Dr. Doyle is the recipient of two of the highest awards at SMU: the Rotunda Outstanding Faculty award ('05-'06) and the "M" Award ('06-'07).

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Dr. Brandon Gray Miller is a white man, dressed in a navy blue suit jacket, light blue oxford button up, and red & navy blue striped tie. The background is a path towards Dallas Hall.

Dr. Brandon Gray Miller

Assistant Dean for University Honors Program and Fellowships
214-768-4543

Dr. Miller, Assistant Dean of the University Honors Program and Fellowships, grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University with degrees in History and Journalism. He then completed a Ph.D. in Russian and East-Central European History at Michigan State University.  Dr. Miller currently is at work on a book exploring gender, material culture, and everyday life in the final Soviet decades.

Since arriving at SMU in 2013, he has taught a variety of European history courses including “Surviving Fascism & Communism in East-Central Europe,” “WWII in Europe,” and the second half of the Western Civilization survey.

When away from campus, he enjoys keeping up with contemporary Russian literature and spending time in Far West Texas.

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Angela is a Korean-American woman with shoulder-length black hair. She is wearing a white blouse with black polka dots.

Dr. Angela Jeon-Huh

Assistant Dean of Scholars Programs
214-768-1040

Dr. Angela Jeon-Huh earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and a Master’s degree in Leadership Development at the Pennsylvania State University, and completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management at Drexel University. Her dissertation focused on undergraduate international student onboarding, specifically ways to improve the cultural and academic adjustment period. Prior to coming to SMU, Dr. Angela Jeon-Huh served as Director of Global Programs at Pennsylvania State University and a faculty member for Global Studies and American Government courses. She served for five years as Drexel University’s Assistant Dean of Students and Director of International Students and Scholars Services. Dr. Jeon-Huh is an active member and a presenter for the Association of International Educators, NAFSA, Academic Impression, AI, and The Global Community for Academic Advising, NACADA.

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Maria Izaguirre is a latina woman with dark brown hair. She wears a black blouse and a blue cardigan. The background is the classic red bricks used in most SMU buildings.

Maria Izaguirre

Program Specialist for Scholars Programs
(214) 768-6776

Maria Izaguirre, a Dallas Native, earned bachelor's degrees in Human Rights, Psychology, and Sociology from SMU. Before joining the team as a Program Specialist for Scholars Programs, Maria was the Postbaccalaureate Fellow for the SMU Human Rights Program. Maria is currently a candidate for a Master of Science in Counseling at SMU.

When not working or studying, Maria enjoys taking long walks at White Rock Lake with her dogs, spending time with her cat, attending concerts, and trying new coffee shops.

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Hannah is a Korean American woman with long black hair. She wears a black blazer with a black & white polka dot blouse.

Hannah Park Lee

Program Specialist, Honors & Scholars Programs
214-768-7722

Hannah Park Lee provides support to the five Honors and Scholars programs as the Program Specialist. Before joining SMU, she worked with non-profit organizations and managed leadership programs by overseeing program logistics as well as thinking through high-level strategy in creating new leadership development initiatives, such as curriculum around Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion, as well as data assessment and program evaluation. She also has extensive experience in fundraising and development and has worked with alumni, parents, community leaders, and faculty and staff. Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and graduate degree in Higher Education Leadership here at SMU. She is currently a doctoral candidate for Higher Education at the Simmons School of Education at SMU where she is researching program and curriculum creation and development. 

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Alexandra Thibeaux is a white woman with short curly hair, cut in a pixie style. She is wearing a red short-sleeved polo with a blue mustang embroidered on the left pocket area. The background is the blurred path towards Dallas Hall.

Alexandra Thibeaux

Program Coordinator, Scholars' Den
214-768-2508

Alexandra (Alex) Thibeaux returned to the Hilltop in August 2017. She was an undergraduate student at SMU from 2009-2013 and was an active member of the University Honors Program as well as a student athlete on the rowing team. Her closest friends in college were fellow students in the Honors program and residents of the SMU Service House. After graduating from SMU, Alex taught elementary school in Dallas for 4 years and earned her M.Ed in Special Education from the University of North Texas in 2017. She is currently a candidate for a Master's of Science in Data Science at SMU. As Program Coordinator, she coordinates the Hilltop Scholars Program, Mustang Scholars Program, President's Scholars Program, University Honors Program, as well as the Hyer Society.

When not working or studying, Alex enjoys playing rugby for the Dallas Harlequins Women's Rugby Team, spending time with her family and friends, listening to music, and telling her German Shepherd, Gatsby, what a good boy he is.

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