Orange Holmes Scholars

Orange Holmes Scholars are first- or second- year doctoral students interested in teacher, leader or counselor education. The Syracuse University School of Education is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), where the Holmes Scholars Program supports students from historically underrepresented communities enrolled in doctoral programs in education.

Becoming an Orange Holmes Scholar

Students eligible to become Orange Holmes Scholars are:

• Students from historically underrepresented communities
• Interested in teacher, leader or counselor education
• Matriculated in a doctoral program in the School of Education
• In their first or second year of doctoral studies

All doctoral students will receive information on the application process by email. Two scholars are chosen each year to be part of a cohort for the next three years.

Meet Our Holmes Scholars

2023 Scholars: Hemalathaa K. Yuvaraja and Etije Mehdori Walker

2020 Scholars: Kirsis Dipre and Robin Maxile

Benefits for Orange Holmes Scholars include:

• A national network of peers with access to dedicated online social networks
• Mentoring opportunities with Holmes alumni in academia and leadership positions
• Financial support to attend the AACTE Annual Meeting with opportunities to present your research, receive dedicated mentoring, and attend a job fair
• Annual Holmes Summer Policy Institute in Washington, DC, including participation in AACTE’s Day on the Hill and networking events associated with the AACTE State Leaders Institute
• National leadership and professional development opportunities at the national level including conference presenting and policy/advocacy training
• Additional funding support to attend conference of choice

Holmes Scholars will also:

• Attend the AACTE (or other field-related) conference each year, and present at at least one regional or national conference
• Attend at least one AACTE Holmes Scholars Summer Institute during your three-year term
• Participate in Orange Holmes Scholar meetings and workshops within the School of Education
• Mentor future educators, counselors, and leaders through a local mentorship program

Advisor/Contact Info

Courtney Mauldin, Assistant Professor

ccmauldi@syr.edu|

“Being in community with other educators, researchers, professors, doctoral students and candidates of color was the evidence I needed to know I was right where I should be. It also helped me quickly identify the work that needed to be done to dismantle barriers the hinder access to higher education for people of color.”

—Phillandra Smith, 2019 Holmes cohort, special education

“The Orange Holmes program has welcomed me with open arms. Being a first-generation student who does not have a lot of familial support, I rely heavily on faculty, staff, and peers, including this program and my cohort-mates. There aren’t many spaces at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) where students of color feel a sense of belonging. Programs such as these are vital for us to be retained at these schools and boost the number of students of color who finish graduate degrees. This is an aspect of organizations that I never spent much time considering in undergrad but have come to be very reflective of. Despite how busy we may be as grad students; we should find time to get involved and stay in community with our peers.”

—Cassaundra Guzman, 2021 Holmes cohort, cultural foundations of education

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