College's newest Holmes scholar elected national Holmes Scholars president
February 2, 2007
 Cheron Hunter, a doctoral student in the College of Education's reading education program, was elected as the national president of the Holmes Scholars program during the organization's January 2007 conference in San Antonio, Texas. She is newest of the college's four current Holmes Scholars, having been selected for the honor in 2006.
In her capacity as president, Hunter will serve as a national advocate for the Holmes Scholars. The Holmes Scholars Council offers enriched academic experiences, professional career training and mentoring to talented men and women of underrepresented ethnic groups or students with disabilities. The program was founded in 1991 and allows participants to hold prominent leadership positions in their universities.
As president, Hunter coordinates the work of four elected officers and five regional representatives. Her position as president also allows her to sit on the Board of Directors of the Holmes Partnership, which sponsors the Holmes Scholars program. She is also involved in advancing diversity issues on campus as vice president of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, a chapter of the National Black Graduate Student Association.
Hunter will not only work toward developing a national plan of action for the organization, which includes a personal goal of streamlining communications, but will use her involvement to a personal benefit—narrowing down a dissertation topic.
"I always saw myself working with students in some capacity," Hunter said of her aspirations in the educational field. Her professional credits include a bachelor and master's degree from Auburn University, and an educational specialist and leadership certificate from Troy University—followed by teaching experience as a second grade teacher in Opelika City Schools.
Hunter sees the Holmes Scholars efforts to mentor aspiring higher education leaders as the program's greatest asset.
"Holmes Scholars alumni choose to come back to the program and help open doors for [current Holmes scholars]," Hunter said. "They extend their time, hands and hearts to provide support and experience, since they, too, know the perils of pursuing a doctorate."
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