Holmes Program Welcomes New Scholars from Indiana University-Bloomington
AACTE is excited to welcome the inaugural Holmes Scholars at Indiana University Bloomington. The cohort of nine students are pursuing doctorate degrees in education with concentrations in teacher education, higher education and curriculum studies, and special education. Led by Carl Darnell, associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, and Alexander Cuenca, assistant professor, the IU Holmes Program demonstrates IU’s commitment to supporting racially diverse students in higher education.
Below are excerpts from the Indiana University Bloomington School of Education website.
Loukisha Anderson is a doctoral student studying higher education and student affairs at IU. She received her master’s degree in educational psychology, with a concentration in human development from Ball State University. She is currently an associate instructor, supporting the student development and retention of Hudson & Holland Scholars. Some of Anderson’s research interest include traditionally underrepresented students’ retention, persistence, and success, mentoring experiences of Black women in higher education, and wellness experiences of Black women pursuing higher education at predominantly white institutions (PWIs).
Nayah Boucaud is a Ph.D. student in the learning sciences at IU. Her research aims to understand students’ ways of detecting and understanding AI and information processes. This research focuses on A.I. and Identity-oriented learning spaces, aimed to support students’ development of computational ways of knowing (i.e., detecting, and protracting information for problem-solving), and hard computing skills (ex. deep learning). Boucaud is currently designing a learning model that utilizes Neural Networks, Stochastic Deep Networks, and Data Visualization/SNA to detect meaningful attributes of students’ cultural and symbolic understandings of A.I.
Chelsea Brinda is a doctoral student in teacher education and curriculum studies, and she serves as an associate instructor for the undergraduate course “Teaching in a Pluralistic Society.” Brinda obtained master’s degrees in Music Theory and Music Education from IU. Her masters thesis focused on high school choral teachers’ perceptions of how teacher evaluation is implemented and applied in their classrooms. She plans to continue studying teacher evaluation and its drawbacks as an accountability measure.
Karyn Housh is a fourth-year doctoral candidate of learning sciences in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology and plans to explore the experiences of Women of Color (WoC) in STEM education. For the past four years, Housh has helped design simulations, narratives and assessments for middle school students, centered on characters of color. Housh seeks to explore the experiences of Women of Colour (WoC) in STEM education and help re-imagine the future of STEM to shape the identities of students of colour, as they engage in learning opportunities in which students of colour embody roles of scientists.
Aaminah Long is a current Ph.D. student studying higher education and student affairs. Her primary research interests center on the relationship between diversity efforts at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and functions of antiBlackness. Long hopes to critically evaluate the higher education sector and its role in regulating social stratification and more.
Brandi Loving is in her first year of pursing a doctoral degree in the History, Philosophy, and Policy in Education program. Her prior research interests focused on Hispanic Serving Institutions, critical race theory, Black feminist thought, racism and language, and intersectional oppression in education and other related ideas. Loving hopes to move into a professoriate position or a nonprofit position after graduation, where she can stay true to her values and aid in dismantling systemic oppression.
Donté Miller is a Ph.D. candidate in higher education, focused on race and racism, power and domination, and student success and activism in higher education. In particular, his dissertation research investigates Black Student Unions in higher education and how Black students involved gain critical consciousness that may lead to their success and campus and societal transformation. Miller is currently an associate instructor for a First-Year seminar course for the Hudson & Holland Scholarship, and is coordinator for the Balfour Pre-College Academy housed under the School of Education’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IU.
Courtney Orr is a doctoral student studying Special Education with a minor in brain science. Her research interest includes combining intellectual disabilities, neuroscience, and technology to increase learning out comes for students. She is currently collaborating on research for assistive technology in inclusive settings, racial justices, and students with autism.
Jessica Staten is a Ph.D. student studying higher education and she serves Indiana University in the full-time role of director of advising for students in transition and advisor professional development. Staten’s research interests are in academic advising; supplemental instruction and education; retention, persistence, and attrition; and enrollment management.
To read their full bios, visit the Indiana University Bloomington School of Education website.
Tags: Holmes Program
