AACTE Welcomes New Holmes Scholars to Start 2024
2024 is off to an exciting start with the addition of new Holmes Scholars from Ohio University, Bowie State University, and Fresno State. Join us in welcoming these new scholars to our vibrant community at the upcoming 2024 Holmes Preconference in Aurora/Denver, CO.
Ohio University
Ihsan Thaheem is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership & Public Policy Affairs Ph.D. program at Ohio University’s Patton College of Education. His academic accomplishments span a diverse background, including a BBA in finance with a focus on financial management from the University of Sindh Jamshoro in Pakistan. He also earned a business entrepreneurship certificate from Santa Rosa Junior College in California, receiving dean’s honor for academic excellence in 2015, and completed an MBA in finance from the Institute of Business Administration, combining it with an LLB with a focus on jurisprudence & policies from the University of Sindh Jamshoro. Thaheem is a former elementary school teacher and educational leader. His research agenda focuses on equitable education for refugee children. He is deeply invested in exploring policies shaped by educational leaders within the global educational landscape, with a special emphasis on refugee education, refugee learners, and equitable education for marginalized communities worldwide. He looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the field of social justice and equity in education.
Bowie State University
Shaundria L. Gibson is a doctoral student in the Inclusive, Culturally Responsive, Effective Administrators of Special Education (INCREASE) cohort at the College of Education at Bowie State University. Before attending Bowie State, Gibson earned an administrative certification from the College of Notre Dame and a master’s from Trinity College, as well as a bachelor’s from Winston Salem State University. Throughout her 23-year career in education, Gibson has been dedicated to teaching and ensuring a quality education for students with disabilities. She currently serves as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Facilitator for the Prince George’s County Public School System in Maryland. Gibson is deeply passionate about fostering inclusive education and advancing the understanding and implementation of inclusive practices within special education. She combines practical skills gained from years in the classroom with a commitment to rigorous academic research. Beyond academia, Gibson envisions a future where inclusive education becomes a cornerstone for empowering students of all abilities. Her journey is not just academic; it’s a heartfelt dedication to creating inclusive spaces that nurture the potential of every learner.
Fresno State University
Adelfa Lorezano is a first-generation, non-traditional, community college alumna, with a 20-plus year career at Reedley College. She is enrolled in the Educational Leadership doctoral program at Fresno State University. Lorenzano also serves as the director of Reedley College’s Title V (DHSI-2020): Community and College Connections for Expanded Educational Opportunity project. She is a founding member of the Reedley College Latino Faculty & Staff Association (LFSA) and currently serves as the 2023-24 LFSA past president. She’s also co-chair of the annual Reedley College Padres Como Compañeros Conference and co-founder of the RC HSI Office. Adelfa earned a BA from Fresno Pacific University and an MS from National University.
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