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Honors Student Association

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Honors Student Association

The Honors Student Association is a student organization established specifically for students of the Honors College. We serve to promote fellowship among Honors students and faculty, encourage volunteerism, and most importantly, commit students to become active members of the Honors College community. The HSA officers meet every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Honors College, and hold three general meetings per semester as well as weekly events. We maintain an active Honors Student Association Facebook page for Honors students to stay up-to-date with HSA events.

Elizabeth Joyce, Co-President


Name: Elizabeth Joyce

Major: Electrical Engineering

Minor: Business

Hometown: Allen, TX

Hobbies/Interests:  Right now, I have the honor of working at the Radar Research Center where I get to fly lots of drones!  In my free time I enjoy playing volleyball and I am trying to get back into running.

Fun fact:  My dad owned a Baskin Robbins when I was younger

Alexis Merchant, Co-President


Major: Biology, Pre-Medicine  

Hometown: Amarillo, TX

Hobbies/Interests: I have always tried to balance my life between arts and science. I spent 16 years dancing ballet and during that time performed with Joffrey ballet! Lately, I’ve been volunteering at Norman Regional and at a plastic surgeon's office!

Fun fact: I danced in a Broadway production of the Wizard of Oz!

If you have any questions about me, my major, the Honors College, or anything else above please contact me at Alexis.B.Merchant-1@OU.edu

Mandinyara Kanhema, Social Media Coordinator


Major: Public Health and Pre-Med

Hometown: Kwekwe, Zimbabwe

Hobbies/Interests: I love sports, so one of my hobbies is playing soccer with my friends and I also enjoy reading sci-fi novels.

Fun fact: A fun fact about me is that I speak 6 languages.

Lane McCoy, Treasurer


Major: Microbiology

Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Hobbies/Interests: I’m a huge fan of a lot of things, including: cats, running, fencing, and cars! I love volunteering, engaging in philanthropy, and working with nonprofits. I also love to grow plants. Since I have to live on campus, I’ve helped my friend cultivate some plants as well as propagate succulents of my own in his house.

Subah Chowdury, Outreach Coordinator


Major: Biochemistry/Pre-Med

Hometown: Queens, New York / OKC

Hobbies/Interests: Some of my hobbies include dance, BJJ, and piano.  In my free time, I love watching Marvel movies, reading comics, and journaling!

Fun fact: My longest dance was 30 minutes straight!

Natalie Keller, Programming Coordinator


Major: Microbiology and Musical Arts for Cello Performance, Pre-Medicine

Minor: Spanish and Medical Humanities

Hometown: Centennial, CO

Hobbies/Interests:

I’m excited to be connecting music and medicine as a part of the Medical Humanities Scholars Program. In my free time, I love outdoor activities like running, hiking, and skiing. During quarantine, I picked up baking as a new hobby.

Fun Fact: I’m a dual citizen of Germany and the United States!

Email: Natalie.r.keller-1@ou.edu

Abby Ball, Programming Coordinator


Major: Biology, Pre-Medicine

Minor: Chemistry, Spanish

Hometown: Bixby, OK

Hobbies/Interests: I’ve always had a passion for science, but my interests tend to lie more in novels and knitting (and a more recent addition of squishmallows) I also really like cats and other animals; one of my sole goals in life to own a large, orange cat.

Fun fact: I can play both flute and piccolo!

Email: ball.abigail@ou.edu

Jennifer Joyce, Programming Coordinator


Major: Accounting/MIS

Minor: Piano

Hometown: Allen, TX

Hobbies/Interests: Playing piano, crocheting, and watching movies

Fun fact: I take tap dancing classes

Chau Phan, Programming Coordinator


Major: Biology

Minor: General Business

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Hobbies/Interest: I enjoy taking care of houseplants, baking, and visiting parks/lakes. Additionally, I have a passion for coffee. I am a volunteer barista at Second Wind Coffeehouse on campus corner in between classes. 

Fun Fact: I only play one sport, tennis. 

Feel free to reach out to me at nguyetchau.phan@ou.edu about anything from my major/minor to passion for coffee!

Every student enrolled in the Honors College at OU is automatically a member of the HSA. However, the title of "Active Member" is reserved for students who attend three meetings or events each semester. Active Members may run for officer positions in the spring.

1 - Help students graduate cum laude and realize their academic potential.

  • Provide students with the requirements to graduate with honors.
  • Help students with the reading and research program.
  • Help students find out about and join other honor and academic organizations.
  • Be a source of information for scholarship opportunities.
  • Direct students toward internship, mentor, and tutoring opportunities.

2 - Serve the academic community.

  • Participate in service projects.
  • Provide a forum for academic discussion.

3 - Participate in the governance of the Honors College.

  • Maintain a close relationship with the Honors College faculty and staff.
  • Facilitate communication between the Honors College and the honors class professors.
  • Foster creation and awareness of honors courses.
  • Assist in faculty hiring.

4 - Participate in the community of honors students.

  • Participate in campus activities.
  • Be active in the community of the Honors House.

The constitution of the H.S.A. is registered with the University of Oklahoma Student Association (UOSA). The constitution provides a framework for the organization. 

Article I. Purpose

The purpose of the University of Oklahoma Honor Student Association (H.S.A.) shall be to ensure student input into the programs and policies of the OU Honors College, to promote healthy debate and knowledge at the university, and to encourage its members to strive for academic excellence.

Article II. Membership

Every student enrolled in the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma is a member of H.S.A. With approval by a majority of H.S.A. officers, any student expressing interest in the OU Honors College shall be a member of the H.S.A.

Article III. Officers

Section 1. President

The President shall chair all H.S.A. meetings. The President shall also be responsible for submitting a budget, which must be approved by a majority of H.S.A. officers. The President has the authority to make financial decisions regarding expenditures under $30.00. The President also has the authority to make other decisions he or she deems necessary, provided he or she obtains a majority approval of H.S.A. officers at the following H.S.A. meeting. The president can also appoint an Executive Director if he or she so chooses.

Section 2. Vice-President

The Vice-President shall be responsible for contacting speakers, arranging events, and performing any other duties not delegated to other officers. The Vice-President shall also chair H.S.A. meetings in the absence of the President.

Section 3. Secretary

The Secretary shall be responsible for taking the minutes of every H.S.A. meeting and for keeping a current roster of all active H.S.A. members. The Secretary shall also chair H.S.A. meetings in the absence of both the President and the Vice- President.

Section 4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial accounts of the H.S.A. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for keeping records of all H.S.A. income and expenditures. All expenditures exceeding $30.00 must have approval by a majority of H.S.A. officers.

Section 5. Executive Director

The Executive Director shall be responsible for overseeing the duties of the other officers under the President, and assisting the officers in their duties.

Article IV. Advisor

A voluntary advisor will be chosen from the Honors Program (College) faculty or staff. The current director of the Honors Program will become the first advisor when this constitution takes effect. In the event an advisor no longer wishes to continue in that capacity, a new advisor will be chosen at the next Honor Student Association officers' meeting.

Article V. Committees

Section 1. Executive Committee

An Executive Committee consisting of all officers shall meet whenever the President or a majority of officers deems necessary. This committee may make decisions by a majority vote, but a three-fourths majority of H.S.A. members present at any H.S.A. meeting may overturn any decision of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Other Committees

The H.S.A. President may establish other committees, and appoint chairs to those committees, as he or she deems necessary. These committees shall have no decision-making power except that granted to them by the Executive Committee.

Article VI. Meetings

At least one meeting shall be called during each full month during the fall and spring semesters. All meetings shall be advertised at least forty-eight (48) hours before they are held. All H.S.A. meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, but a quorum will not be required to conduct business.

Article VII. Elections

Elections shall be held at the end of each spring semester. The positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer will be filled during this election. Those H.S.A. members elected to these positions will serve one-year terms. In the event that one of these offices is vacated during the school year, a special election to fill those offices will be called within two (2) weeks of such vacation.

Article VIII. Impeachment

Any officer may be impeached and removed from office by a two-thirds majority of H.S.A. members present at any H.S.A. meeting, provided that charges against the officer be presented to him and be posted on the first floor in the Honors House for at least one (1) week prior to the meeting.

Article IX. Amendments

Amendments to this constitution must be approved by a two-thirds of H.S.A. members present at any H.S.A. meeting. Copies of the amendments must be posted on the first floor of the Honors House for at least one (1) week prior to the meeting.

Article X. Ratification

This constitution shall become effective upon ratification by two-thirds of H.S.A. members voting at the next H.S.A. meeting, and approval of U.O.S.A.