12 Jun2023
By Charles A. Barnes II, JD
My research is centered around identity and belonging. Specifically, how Black men identifying as members of the LGBTQIA+ community navigate religious and educational settings firmly rooted in oppressive heteronormative structures. Both religious and educational institutions are built around heteronormative principles that implicitly value and presuppose heterosexuality. Within heteronormative religious and educational spaces, many are confronted with feelings of isolation and alienation.
The presence of homophobia, racism, and other forms of discrimination fosters a hostile environment that marginalizes and excludes individuals like me. The weight of societal expectations, urging conformity, and the concealment of my true self, have resulted in internal conflict, mental health challenges, and a profound sense of disconnection. Nevertheless, I have refused to allow these obstacles to define me. Instead, I have discovered resilience within myself and actively sought out supportive networks, including LGBTQIA+ student organizations, allies, and inclusive educators who have offered me a vital sense of belonging and understanding.
06 Jun2023
By Weade James
Congratulations to Blanca Jurado, Holmes Scholar of the Month for May 2023!
Blanca Jurado is a doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix.
02 Jun2023
By Weade James
The AACTE Holmes Program supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at AACTE member institutions.
AACTE is excited to welcome two new Holmes Scholars from Syracuse University.
25 Apr2023
By Amelia Q. Rivera
Congratulations to Adriana C. Labarta, Holmes Scholar of the Month for April 2023. In 2021, Labarta was awarded the grand prize for the Tomorrow’s Counselor Essay Contest and was recognized as Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year in the Department of Counselor Education. Florida Atlantic University. Additionally, she has been recognized from 2020-2022 as a Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) Emerging Leader.
Labarta completed her M.Ed and Ed.S. in Counselor Education with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling from University of Florida. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida.
10 Apr2023
By Weade James
AACTE is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration and mentoring opportunity with the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE), AACTE’s flagship journal, and the Holmes Scholars Program. Through this collaboration, the JTE leadership team will select and mentor Holmes Scholars to co-write an editorial or manuscript that will appear in one of JTE’s special anniversary issues in 2024! This opportunity is specifically for Holmes doctoral and post-doctoral scholars who would like to learn how to write and publish a piece of quality scholarship in a high-impact academic journal. JTE helps ensure that the next generation of teacher education scholars are supported as they take on real-world challenges for the professoriate.
04 Apr2023
By Weade James
During its 75th Annual Meeting, AACTE recognized outstanding dissertation proposals submitted by Holmes Scholars as part of the Annual Holmes Dissertation Funding Competition (DFC). The competition awarded three non-renewable awards to support Holmes scholars’ dissertation expenses, including data collection and analyses costs, software fees, and editing services. Congratulations to Leslie Ekpe of Texas Christian University, Latifa Sebti of Rowan University, and Takeshia Pierre of University of Florida for placing in the top three of the competition.
This year’s competition was sponsored by AACTE, the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges of Teacher Education (AILACTE), Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU), and the Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions (CADREI).
14 Mar2023
By Weade James
Each year, participants of the Holmes Program elect peers to represent the needs of the Holmes community and to collaborate with AACTE to enhance programming and initiatives to benefit the Holmes student body. Established in 1991, the Holmes Program’s primary goal is to increase the diversity of tenure-track education faculty and leaders within higher education and the PK-12 school system. Holmes Scholars benefit from culturally relevant professional development and mentorship offered by AACTE and its member institutions. Holmes participants are immersed in an identify affirming community of over 200 peers and 800 alumni mentors. AACTE is excited to welcome the 2023-24 Holmes Council officers who will work alongside the association and its stakeholders to implement impactful programming for the Holmes community.
07 Mar2023
By Weade James
AACTE is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2022 Holmes Research and Dissertation Retreat. The event will take place April 3 – 4, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on both days at the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.
Co-sponsored by the PNC Foundation and Florida Atlantic University, the Holmes Research and Dissertation Retreat will equip Holmes scholars with knowledge and tools to enhance their research productivity and navigate the dissertation process. Topics will include research methods and approaches, how to select and integrate a theoretical framework, how to identify grants and funding opportunities to support their dissertation and scholarship, and strategies to successfully publish and present their research to an interdisciplinary audience. Registration ($25) is required for scholars. Register today.
27 Feb2023
By Leslie Ekpe
Congratulations to Eleanor Su-Keene, Holmes Scholar of the Month for February 2023.
Su-Keene is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University where she obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. Su-Keene holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in biochemistry from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She also has a Master of Science in molecular ecology from UNR with a focus in teaching and learning in secondary science.
31 Jan2023
By Nicole Dunn
“AACTE meets the challenges of the 21st century through hosting career fairs that endeavors to diversify the post-secondary faculty pipeline. The outcomes of their efforts speak for themselves,” said Amanda Wilkerson, University of Central Florida, Holmes Program Alumna. “Through the Holmes Scholars program and innovative professional development training, I was able to showcase my research skills that ultimately led to acquiring a tenure-track academic role at a Research 1 Institution.”
Perhaps your institution is looking to connect with or recruit diverse faculty like Amanda Wilkerson. You need to look no further than the Holmes Program, which supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at AACTE member institutions.
24 Jan2023
By Nicole Dunn
Is your institution looking to connect with or recruit diverse new faculty? Look no further than the Holmes Program, which supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at AACTE member institutions. AACTE is inviting your institution to be an exhibitor — at no cost — at the Holmes Career Fair on Friday, February 24 at 3:45 – 5:15 p.m. at the Indianapolis JW Marriott Hotel during AACTE’s 75th Annual Meeting.
03 Jan2023
By Leslie Ekpe
Congratulations to Jingjing Liu, Holmes Scholar of the Month. Liu is a Ph.D. candidate in the Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership Program with a concentration in higher education administration at the College of William & Mary. Her dissertation, titled “Faculty Involvement in Vertical Transfer: A Case Study of A Rural Community College,” explores the role of community college faculty in supporting transfer students. Liu’s research agenda focuses on the educational experiences of marginalized groups and social, cultural, and political contexts of learning in higher education.
16 Dec2022
By Weade James
The Holmes Program continues to expand with exceptional graduate students and future education leaders. We are proud to welcome new scholars from Boston University, University of Florida, University of North Florida, and George Mason University to the Holmes community.
07 Nov2022
From the Holmes Bulletin
By Gaurav Harshe
This reflection originally appeared on the Holmes Scholars Bulletin.
Who would take me under their wing? Why would they help me get into a doctoral program? Does anyone see me and any potential in me?
Questions of uncertainty, depreciation, and self-doubt were hurling at me as I searched for a doctoral program in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration.
Yet, as I navigate the University of South Carolina’s program for these past two months of the semester, I have found that I belong, with all my humanity being present in the spaces I navigate.
28 Oct2022
By Leslie Ekpe
Congratulations to Phylicia Anderson, on being named Holmes Scholar of the Month! Anderson is a doctoral candidate at Texas Woman’s University.
Her latest publications include a chapter in the book, Engage and Empower: Expanding the Curriculum for Justice and Activism, titled “Cultural (mis)representations in the media: Challenging hegemonic ideas,” as well as a journal article published in the Journal of Language and Literacy Education, titled “Language, literacy, and love: A critical framework for teaching adolescent emergent bilinguals.”
