Patton College Holmes Scholars

Scholar Spotlight

Oumarou "Omar" Abdoulaye Balarabe is one of only nine graduate students from across the United States selected to receive the 2024 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education and who are committed to academic innovation in the areas of equity, community engagement, and teaching and learning.

Srijana Katuwal

Srijana has been involved as one of the Climate and Sustainability Ambassadors of 51�� (OHIO). In this capacity, she has been responsible for discussing sustainability at OHIO with high school students. The main aim of this project is to inform high school students about the following:

The importance of sustainability.
How OHIO is taking initiatives towards sustainability
How we, as individuals, can play a part in advancing sustainability by making changes in our lifestyle.

Srijana is also involved in the ALAANA + Women's Leadership Cohort, which focuses on enhancing women's leadership at OU.

Ishan Thaheem

Ihsan has been selected to participate in the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University's Future Case Challenge, known as the Evaluation Case Challenge, 2024. Through this challenge, a group of researchers are trained and invited to evaluate a real-time public organization or corporation in Canada and are recognized as evaluation experts for public organizations. Ihsan will also be participating in the Three Minute Dissertation Competition at 51��. Ihsan has also presented his research on the Education of Refugee Children at the CIES conference in California.

The AACTE Holmes Program supports students who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse and are pursuing graduate degrees in education at AACTE member institutions. Founded in 1991 for doctoral students, the Holmes Program now provides mentorship, peer support, and professional development opportunities.

Participation in the Holmes Program is open to all AACTE member institutions; AACTE charges no additional fee to enroll. Sponsoring institutions are responsible for supporting their Holmes students according to the participation requirements. Nearly currently participate in the Holmes Program.

The Patton College of Education seeks to maintain a cohort of 4-5 students. Scholars serve for 3-year terms and are replaced as they graduate. They participate in a variety of activities including: