In the three years since the Holmes Scholars Program has been established at the IU School of Education, it has grown in numbers and support for the students it’s helped.

The Holmes Scholars Program provides a supportive environment to doctoral students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. This year’s cohort includes eleven students from around the country, with around 26 total students in the program. These students have a level of support that starts from the very top at the School of Education: two associate deans, an assistant dean, an associate director and professors who meet monthly and make sure each scholar has a faculty mentor.

“To be able to have freedom in a place that normally feels isolating or sometimes even oppressive or hostile, to be able to (be) connected to folks—to me that’s my favorite part,” said Carl Darnell, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the School of Education. “I want people to know about the Holmes program that there’s community and support. There’s a ready-made community, and there’s support already there for you that you can build on as well.”

Darnell says one of the biggest benefits he hears from students involved in the Holmes program is the mentoring they receive.

“Having a mentor who has been connected with them specifically for their research just gives them a different perspective and view on what you should be doing, how you should be writing, how to get the most out of these conferences, how to get research underway before you get to the dissertation,” Darnell said. “Being able to ask questions, just knowing you have a consistent person who is always going to respond.”

Associate Professor Alexander Cuenca serves on the Holmes Scholars Steering Committee, where he coordinates meetings and activities. Those activities include barbecues, professional development sessions, brown bag lunches that feature research conducted by fellow Holmes Scholars and writing groups dedicated to supporting the production of new research. Last year, several Holmes scholars attended and presented research at the annual American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education conference in New Orleans, where they also had access to new networks of Holmes Scholars from across the United States.

“The feedback from students has been exceedingly positive. They have enjoyed the camaraderie of community, the opportunities to network with professors within and outside of our institution, and the space to celebrate success, while also addressing the obstacles that students of color face in graduate school,” Cuenca said.

“It is important for the School of Education to have this program because it demonstrates to current and future doctoral students our commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion,” Cuenca added. “By providing a supportive network of peers and faculty, the Holmes Program ensures that the perspectives and experiences of students of color are valued and visible.”