College of Education recognizes Holmes Scholars
October 31, 2008
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Dean Francis Kochan (left) and Dr. Leah Robinson (far right) congratulate the six students recognized as Holmes Scholars: Thomandra Sam, Tonja Exford, Sydney Freeman, Cheron Hunter, Sheila Moore and Jennifer Wells. |
The six Auburn University College of Education graduate students who will be honored at the Holmes Scholar Induction Ceremony have distinguished themselves as principals, classroom teachers, journal editors, researchers, organizational leaders and volunteers.
Tonja Jacobs Exford, Sydney Freeman, Cheron Hunter, Sheila Moore, Thomandra Sam and Jennifer Wells will be recognized at the Holmes Scholar Induction Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 4:30 p.m. in Student Center room 2223.
The Holmes Scholars Program provides graduate students from underrepresented ethnic groups and students with disabilities who aspire to higher education careers with enriched academic experiences, career training and concentrated professional mentoring. Scholars are selected for a three-year term that provides resources for networking with peers through the Holmes Partnership network and others within academia. Recipients are chosen through a competitive process and must have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
Dr. Lora Bailey, a Holmes Scholar herself during her studies in Auburn's College of Education, has advised and mentored those in the program since returning to the faculty in 2006. Bailey, an associate professor in the college's Department of Curriculum and Teaching, is able to return the same guidance and mentoring she received to this future generation of higher education professionals.
"Nationally, Holmes Scholars receive high-quality mentoring and services from the Holmes Partnership, the National Association of Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA), and their local programs. The impact I make to minority doctoral students as a member of NAHSA is perhaps my greatest contribution to Holmes Scholars. Our newly inducted members are among an elite group Holmes Scholars who will indeed make a positive impact on the professorate in the near future," Bailey said.
The graduate students who will be honored are:
Tonja Jacobs Exford, 2008 to 2010
Doctoral student Tonja Exford's research focuses on the physiological and health benefits associated with mindfulness training. Her scholarly objectives include the implementation of mindfulness outreach interventions as a means of positively affecting the health of Alabamians in rural communities. Before pursuing a doctorate in exercise physiology, Exford earned a master's degree in secondary biology from Alabama State University and a bachelor's degree in cytology from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Exford served as a science teacher in the Montgomery Public School system for three years. She is a member of the Auburn University Black Graduate and Professional Student Association and has also been a member of the National Education Association.
"Within this first semester, I have already noticed TJ's emergence from a quiet, unassuming student to one that beams with confidence and vigor. She has quickly learned the procedures and techniques to run most of our labs' most complicated equipment and is already making great contributions as a researcher in several projects that are being performed for industry.''
Dr. David Pascoe
Humana-Germany-Sherman distinguished professor
Department of Kinesiology
Sydney Freeman, 2008 to 2010
Sydney Freeman, a doctoral student in higher education administration, serves as assistant editor of the Journal of School Leadership, coordinating the day-to-day functions of a leading national peer-review publication. His research agenda focuses on the preparation process for the college presidency and its implications on graduate curriculum in higher education programs. Freeman, who plans to become a professor of higher education administration, earned a master's degree from Auburn University and a bachelor's degree from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala. He received an appointment to Auburn University's adult and higher education graduate curriculum committee and serves on the National Advisory Board for the National African American Student Leadership Conference.
"Sydney has an eye toward inquiry. He is keenly interested in learning about his field, but is equally concerned about how this knowledge can be applied in meaningful, socially just ways. He is an eager student, ready to volunteer and to tackle issues and tasks to help him better understand the inner workings of higher education issues within their social, political, and historical contexts," said Dr. Cindy Reed, professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology and director of the Truman Pierce Institute.
Cheron Hunter, 2006 to 2008
Cheron Hunter, a doctoral student in the reading education program, was elected as the national president of the Holmes Scholar program during the organization's January 2007 conference. In her role as president, Holmes serves as a national advocate for the Holmes Scholars and coordinates the work of four elected officers and five regional representatives. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Holmes Partnership, which sponsors the Holmes Scholars program. A former second grade teacher in Opelika City Schools, Hunter obtained bachelor's and master's degrees from the College of Education and an educational specialist and leadership certificate from Troy University. She is the former vice president of Auburn's Black Graduate and Professional Student Association and is serving in her first year as a College of Education Student Ambassador, a position that calls for her to represent the college to alumni, donors and others.
"Cheron's classroom is characterized by clear organization, an instructional design that features focused, small group learning, highly visual prompts for students, and a commitment to support students directly and intensely on skills for which they require extra guidance. She has been able to reach and teach weak readers, gifted students, special needs children and even children who speak no English at all, said Dr. Ray Winegar, elementary curriculum coordinator, Opelika City Schools.
Sheila Moore, 2007 to 2009
Doctoral student Sheila Moore is focusing her studies on educational leadership at the elementary and secondary levels. She obtained her undergraduate and master's degrees from Tuskegee University in 1982 and 1986, respectively. Moore brings ample professional experience to her doctoral studies, as she was a teacher, principal and central office administrator with the Buffalo Public Schools system in New York from 1990 to 2001. Her professional goal is to become a tenure-track professor in the area of K-12 instructional leadership. While attending her first Holmes Partnership conference in January 2008, Moore ran unopposed for the program's national vice president position.
"Sheila has been a tremendous force in the redesign efforts of our [department's] Master's Educational Leadership Program—her communication and interpersonal skills in the workplace make her an excellent candidate for the Holmes Scholars Program," said Dr. Ellen Reames, assistant professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology.
Thomandra Sam, 2007 to 2009
Doctoral student Thomandra Sam began her studies in counseling psychology in 2005 after obtaining her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. She has served as president of the Auburn University Black Graduate and Professional Student Association — a campus-wide organization dedicated to graduate and undergraduate students' professional development. She served for two years as a member of the college's Student Ambassador program, which allows students to represent the college to alumni, donors and others. Sam's goal is to become a university professor.
"Thomandra is the kind of person for whom I believe that the Holmes Scholars Program looks for. She has a strong interest in research, commitment to social justice and has a track record in terms of leadership and responsibility," said Dr. Randolph Pipes, professor and director of training for Counseling Psychology, Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling/School Psychology.
Jennifer Wells, 2008 to 2010
Jennifer Wells, a doctoral student in educational psychology, worked her way through the Human Development and Family Studies graduate program while employed as a parent educator and case manager with Family and Children's Services in Opelika, Ala. Her work with that program and others aimed at preventing dismal outcomes for children and families shaped her research interests in program development, implementation and evaluation focused on human development, family studies and childhood outcomes. She has served as a regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and has directed state-level projects and provided professional development for individuals in the areas of family life and childhood education. Before completing a master's degree at Auburn, Wells earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Tuskegee University. Her post-doctorate goal is to become a university professor.
"Jennifer has come to recognize the important influence of effective program development, program implementation and program evaluation on quality of life issues for families. Her desire to combine her knowledge in family life and child development with the evaluation of educational research, policy, and practice makes her highly marketable in the age of accountability," said Dr. Jose Llanes, professor and department head, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology.
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