Four Holmes Scholars named to 2023 cohort

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Holmes Program named four College of Education PhD students as 2023 Holmes Scholars.

The program supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at AACTE member institutions.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this community of scholars and excited to take advantage of the mentorship, professional development opportunities, and networking events offered by the program,” said Samira Bashiru, a first-year PhD Student in Special Education. “The Purdue Holmes Scholar program provides a multitude of invaluable opportunities that are essential for my academic and professional growth as a doctoral student. I look forward to actively engaging in these resources to enhance my skills, broaden my knowledge, and advance my career trajectory.”

“I am honored to be joining the wonderful group of Purdue Holmes Scholars, whom I am excited to learn and grow with in the coming years,” Karabella Hernandez, a first-year PhD student in Counseling Psychology. “I am also very grateful to be receiving this new opportunity to engage with professional development at conferences & workshops and will enjoy becoming a part of this driven and brilliant community.”

“The scholarship will give me the support, resources, and mentorship I need to advance my research and promote diversity, equity, and social justice in education. I’m excited to attend conferences, workshops, and seminars, and work with other scholars and experts in the field,” said Chenchen Lu, second-year PhD student in Social Studies Education. “These opportunities will help me to investigate how teachers approach their work and how it relates to their identity. I’ll also look at how minority groups engage in civic activities and explore any gaps in how students of different races learn about civic issues. I can learn from new research and practices, make professional connections, and build my skills and knowledge. I hope to better understand how education can create more equitable learning environments for all students, while also achieving my own academic and career goals.”

“I am extremely excited and grateful to be selected as a Holmes Scholar!” said Megan (Yiheng) Zhou, a first-year PhD student in Counseling Psychology. “As an international student in the U.S., I am eager to enhance my research capabilities within this program’s community and contribute to the diversity of academia.”

The College of Education 2023 Holmes Scholars are:

Samiratu Bashiru

PhD Student
Special Education

Karabella Hernandez

PhD Student
Counseling Psychology

Chenchen Lu

PhD Student
Curriculum & Instruction (Social Studies)

Megan (Yiheng) Zhou

PhD Student
Counseling Psychology

The goal of the program is to offer mentorship, peer support, professional development, and rich scholarly experiences to Scholars, who in turn, become an outstanding pool of candidates for future faculty and leadership positions. Since 2008, Purdue University’s College of Education has sponsored the Holmes Scholars Program as a means to support the retention and graduation of doctoral students committed to improving the representation and development of historically underrepresented communities.