Change the future with Barrett, The Honors College
Collaborative solutions for global challenges
Sustainability, community health, human rights, ethical augmented intelligence, political polarization: These challenges demand collaborative, wide-thinking bridgebuilders willing to break outside the box and work together to innovate a path forward.
“There is no really meaningful challenge or problem or issue that yields to a solution from a single disciplinary perspective,” says Tara Williams, Dean of Barrett, The Honors College. “The biggest ideas and challenges require an interdisciplinary perspective and approach.”
Today’s generation of young people is eager to make a difference, to heal their communities and their world. They call for an educational experience that will equip them to envision and enact change. They can find all that and more at Barrett.
Barrett students engage in research under faculty mentorship during their honors academic experience.
The complex issues of our day require complex solutions — ones that can’t be built in a vaccuum.
Barrett offers a personalized academic experience with the expansive resources of an innovative and world-class university.
“One of the greatest responsibilities of global citizenship is coming away with an understanding of the places you have traveled to…
In a Barrett study abroad program, what you get is a series of curated experiences. You have educational opportunities and immerse yourself in the culture of the place you are inhabiting.”
— Samuel McGee Journalism major
Empowering interdisciplinary world-changers
We welcome the philosopher engineer who is curious about the social impact of new technologies, the scientist-musician who can make unique connections across disciplines and the linguist-humanitarian who wants to cross language barriers for the underserved.
Barrett convenes 7,600 academically accomplished students from across all 400-plus majors. With residential colleges on each of our campuses and a virtual community for online students, Barrett is a living and learning community that supports highly motivated students. This interdisciplinary cross-section of brilliant minds has one main thing in common: These students want to change the world. Because Barrett takes a highly customized and personalized approach, we believe they can.
Through Changing Futures, we’ll invest in global experiences, undergraduate research and personal and professional development so that more Barrett students can be equipped for impact.
Hands-on learning for real-world impact
Breaking barriers in undergraduate research
Undergraduate research significantly enhances career and graduate school readiness, yet many Barrett students encounter barriers to participation due to financial constraints and difficulty finding the right faculty mentor match. The proposed Barrett Undergraduate Research Center will expand access to research opportunities for first-generation students and those with financial need by enhancing existing programs, offering scholarships and hosting a spring symposium for research presentations. It will also introduce a researcher-in-residence program, support faculty research through grants and provide mentorship to students.
By democratizing access to these opportunities, the initiative seeks to cultivate a group of future public servants and researchers reflecting Arizona’s varied population. Through Changing Futures, we’ll level the playing field when it comes to accessing impactful but historically privileged learning experiences, paving the way for a more equitable future for all.
The Barrett Undergraduate Research Center will drive real-world impact and student success through research initiatives.
Barrett is building access for students from all backgrounds to succeed and thrive.
Empowering global leaders
Barrett is developing the next generation of global leaders and preparing them to deliver powerful solutions on sustainability issues.
Preparing future leaders for global challenges
Providing meaningful global experiences for all students is a top priority for Barrett. We’re bringing the world to Barrett and sending Barrett students into the world to build critical skills and foster understanding in our future world leaders.“We are empowering students with the skills and knowledge to deliver positive impact and change as future leaders and citizens, both at home and abroad,” says Jason Briggs, Senior Director of the Office of Global Initiatives at Barrett Honors College.
The Barrett Global Leadership Program empowers students with a deep understanding of leadership amid realworld challenges. Led by experienced global leaders, students dive into the fundamentals of global literacy and diplomatic strategy. With a core and advanced practicum, students will be able to earn a global leadership certificate while exploring global issues in a variety of formats, including coursework,
study abroad, international service-learning and more. This transformative program sharpens students’ leadership skills and prepares them to make a meaningful impact on the world stage.
Scaling sustainable solutions worldwide
Barrett exposes students to lifechanging and culturally immersive experiences that make a positive impact in the world. An international service learning program, GlobalResolve collaborates with local communities, universities and nongovernmental organizations to deliver solutions anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The next chapter for GlobalResolve involves expanding this successful program into a collaborative center. By partnering with international universities and broadening the reach of the program, GlobalResolve will increase its number of projects and impact and create scalable solutions globally.
It is incredibly rewarding motivating to know use the skills I am now to contribute greater than myself.
rewarding and know that I will am learning right
contribute to a mission
myself.
—Sophia Lin
Cybersecurity and political science major
Support Barrett and shape a better future
“I believe that meeting new people and experiencing things outside of your comfort zone is one of the most important steps in your education. It enables a person to find ways to be of service…I want to leverage public service in a way that can create change.”
— Sierra Jones Global studies major
These are just a sampling of the many opportunities to create impact through support for Barrett—but there are many more ideas, solutions, and innovations our students will generate in the years to come.
“As I see our students walk around campus, I can’t help but think: There is the next discovery in cancer research walking by as a freshman right now, and there is the next person who will solve the global economic crisis,” says Paola Gale, Associate Director of Development for Barrett Honors College. “This is really, truly where it starts. The world is changing for the better because of Barrett.”
Your support for Barrett changes futures for the better.
Change futures by supporting
The Barrett Global Leadership program is an invaluable opportunity to gain knowledge and build professional skills through courses and programs with notable individuals, including former presidents and prime ministers, retired leaders from the US military and foreign service and subject matter experts in many of the challenges facing our country and world. Through Changing Futures, we nurture the next generation of leaders who will shape the future in public service and the private sector.
The Justice and Equity Honors Network teaches students critical skills and insights into historical and contemporary issues of injustice, incivility and political disengagement. Through Changing Futures, the network will equip inclusive, informed contributors to tackle societal challenges.
Life Prep offers workshops, networking opportunities and real-world advice to prepare students, and especially first-generation students, for postgraduation life. Through Changing Futures, this program will provide our society and workforce with better-prepared young adults.
our relationship with the planet
Through Changing Futures, we will scale the GlobalResolve servicelearning program into a collaborative center focused on innovating durable solutions to improve the livelihoods of people and the planet, particularly with vulnerable and underserved populations. The GlobalResolve Center has the potential to deliver positive change and deepen its impact by creating scalable solutions with global application.
Barrett, The Honors College
Build the future of health Advance technology for good
In alignment with the ASU Charter, creating a more inclusive educational environment for our student body is paramount. Because many Barrett students qualify for federal financial aid based on family income, bringing more students into the Barrett experience requires an investment both in scholarships and experiences like the Barrett Undergraduate Research Center.
Arizona State University is enhancing its healthcare education through the newly established ASU Health entity and the innovative ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering. Through the Barrett Pre-Health Advising Initiative we will support pre-health students by providing unique interdisciplinary training, MCAT tutoring, specialized advising and opportunities with esteemed partners like Mayo Clinic and HonorHealth. Through Changing Futures, we will foster a more inclusive and qualified healthcare workforce for the future.
Augmented intelligence is transforming higher education, requiring students to acquire new skills and faculty to adapt their teaching methods to effectively integrate AI into curricula. Barrett’s Technology & the Future of High-Impact Education initiative will integrate AI into higher education by establishing an endowed professorship focused on innovative teaching methods and ethical AI use. Through Changing Futures, we will lead the way in harnessing AI and other technology to deliver high-impact and bespoke learning opportunities.
About Us
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University is a highly regarded, residential college for academically outstanding undergraduates.
As the honors college on all four campuses, and online, of the nation’s largest public university, Barrett offers the best of both worlds - a highly-personalized academic experience backed by the resources and expansive opportunities of a Research I university that is ranked No. 1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report.
A $12 million endowment exclusively supports honors students and their projects.
ASU Charter
ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.