The Holmes Scholars Program was established in 1991 to enrich the scholarly experience and professional training of talented men and women of color who are underrepresented in leadership positions in our universities and professional development schools. The Holmes Scholars are a select group of graduate students who are enrolled at The Holmes Partnership institutions. They are preparing for careers in the education professorate and in professional development schools. More than 400 students have participated in the network and nearly 100 are currently in tenure-track positions at colleges and universities around the country.

On June 1, 2001, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) and the George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) jointly assumed the management and coordination of the Holmes Scholars Program.  Dr. Alicia Ardila-Rey of AACTE directs the Scholars program. At GSEHD, Dr. Maxine Freund, Vicepresident for Holmes Scholars of the Holmes Partnership Board of Directors guides and supports the Scholars Program in collaboration with staff members of the GSEHD Deans Office.

AACTE and The George Washington University have undertaken the following tasks:

• Organize a Holmes Scholars Conference within the annual Holmes Partnership Conference.
  
• Maintain a Holmes Scholars presence on the world wide web;
  
• Maintain and monitor a dedicated list serve;
  
• Respond to scholar and other interested parties written, telephonic and electronic inquiries on the program;
  
• Answer correspondence from recruiting institutions, the media, and the public;
  
• Work to establish dedicated space, telephone, and fax for the program; and,
  
• Support the publication of an annual yearbook of Scholars.

A Scholars Council was also created in 2001.The council is an elected body of Scholars representing each region and providing leadership for various initiatives to promote the scholars as a program and the work of individual scholars. The Program office works very closely with the Council in an advisory capacity. You can access the Council Bylaws here. Click here for more information on the Scholars Council

The Partnership has also established a Washington-based summer leadership policy institute housed at GWU. In addition, we support Scholars' participation at the annual meetings of AACTE and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).