Grecia Monroy

DENTON (UNT), Texas — An undergraduate Honors College student at the University of North Texas received a prestigious grant, allowing her to study international social and public policy in England.

Grecia Monroy, a senior majoring in political science, is the recipient of a $40,000 Rotary Global Grant from Rotary International. The grant will enable her to pursue a master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

“I applied to the LSE because of its incredible program and focus on policy development. I’m honored to have received this opportunity to pursue my career goals,” Monroy said.

Founded in 1905, Rotary International supports philanthropic and educational initiatives with over 1.2 million members and 45,000 clubs worldwide. Its Global Grant program funds graduate-level academic scholarships, humanitarian projects and the development of international vocational training teams.

Monroy was inspired to apply for a Global Grant while participating in UNT’s North Texas in D.C. program, which allows students to pursue semester-long government, nonprofit and private sector internships in the U.S. capital. She interned for former congressman Dr. Michael Burgess, a UNT alumnus who represented the 26^th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2025.

“My sincerest congratulations to Grecia for receiving the Rotary Global Grant,” Burgess said. “Grecia has demonstrated on numerous occasions her dedication and commitment to excellence. Her hard work truly has paid off and I am excited to see her future great success.”

Monroy moved to the U.S. from Mexico in 2021 to earn her bachelor’s degree at UNT. She served as an Eagle Ambassador and participated in UNT’s Student Government Association and the Latinx Hispanic Student Union. But it was her coursework in the Honors College and the Department of Political Science that inspired her career path.

“I developed a love for public policy and administration, international relations and comparative politics,” Monroy said. “The faculty at UNT have provided me with invaluable academic and professional experiences.”

James Duban, Honors College associate dean for research and national scholarships, expressed pride in Monroy on behalf of the college.

“Grecia stands to make significant contributions to a better world via the graduate education now available to her at the LSE,” Duban said. “She truly embodies Rotarian belief in service above self.”

Gloria Cox, associate chair and associate professor of political science, echoed Duban’s sentiments.

“Grecia is an extraordinary person who possesses not only intellectual brilliance, but also a great work ethic and strong motivation to achieve her goals,” Cox said. “I am thrilled that she is the recipient of this award, as it will enable her to realize her hopes and dreams.”

After completing her master’s degree, Monroy plans to work in diplomacy and policy analysis. She hopes her time in London will expand not only her academic knowledge, but her worldview as well.

“Studying in a globally diverse environment is essential to understanding different perspectives and building cross-cultural relationships,” Monroy said. “I’m so grateful to all who helped make this dream of studying in London come true.”