Phillandra Smith, second-year doctoral student in special education, is highlighted by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) as Holmes Scholar of the Week. Smith is part of the first cohort of Holmes Scholars at Syracuse University; the program supports students from historically underrepresented communities enrolled in doctoral programs in education.
Smith is also pursuing a C.A.S. in disability studies, and is also a board member on the Graduate Student Council. She serves as an American Education Research Association (AERA) peer reviewer for the Caribbean and African Studies in Education special interest group (SIG).
Originally from The Bahamas, Smith has taught in her home country and Japan. Her research interests include cultural reciprocity in the transition planning of culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities, the retention and recruitment of racially and ethnically diverse students to inclusive education teacher programs, and the experience of Caribbean migrant students with disabilities in U.S. schools.
Smith was also recently elected as Sergeant at Arms to the 2020-2021 Holmes Council. The Council, selected among all Holmes Scholars, serves as the student voice of the program for AACTE.