From Left to Right: Thomas Moore, Melanie Acosta, Associate Dean Thomasenia Lott Adams, Shaunte Elliott, and Frank Conic

The UF College of Education Holmes Scholars represented UF at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), “Meeting Emerging PK-12 Needs,” Feb. 28 – March 2, in Orlando, Florida.

The UF COE Holmes Scholars participated in activities designed to provide academic, social, and emotional supports. They presented original research on the topic of cultural diversity in research-intensive universities and received beneficial feedback that will refine their skills.

The scholars met with faculty and peers from across the nation helping to build their professional networks. They also attended conference sessions on developing a personal identity as a researcher, preparing a dissertation, and becoming a scholarly writer.

Associate Dean Adams accompanied the scholars at the conference and noted that the college’s effort to strengthen diversity among doctoral students is undergirded by the college’s participation in the Holmes Scholars Program. She also emphasized that “targeted mentoring of the college’s Holmes Scholars by faculty in each school is critical to the scholars’ success.”

The Holmes Scholars® Program, established in 1991, is designed to enrich the scholarly experience and professional training of talented graduate-level students from underrepresented minority backgrounds or students with disabilities pursuing careers in education. For further information, please visit the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program at http://aacte.org/programs/holmes-scholars-program/.