AACTE Holmes Scholars
The AACTE Holmes Scholars Program supports doctoral students by creating a professoriate and education leadership pipeline that reflects the student
body in America’s schools. Students receive financial support for up to three years. There is no specific deadline
or application for the Holmes Scholars Program. Holmes Scholars are selected during
the Ph.D. admissions process by the Department to which they are applying. If you
are selected as a Holmes Scholar, your department will notify our office, you will
be notified and provided next steps.
Current Scholars
Ta'lia Gordon
Ta'lia Gordon is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education at the University of South Carolina.
Born and raised in Ridge Spring, South Carolina, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in
History from the University of South Carolina. Recently, she graduated from Florida
State University with a Master’s in Higher Education. During her master’s program,
she served as a 2023 PURPOSE Fellow, designing a research project focused on identifying
the experiences of Black student leaders at predominantly white institutions. Her
research interests highlight the need to value and appreciate Black students, recognizing
that the Black experience is not monolithic. She emphasizes creating spaces for students
to explore their leadership identities and empowering them to see themselves as leaders,
not just problem solvers for others. Currently, Ta’lia is a graduate research assistant
for Henry Tran in the Department of Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry, where
she assists with various research projects.
Gaurav Harshe
Gaurav Harshe (तो, he/him) is an AACTE Holmes Scholar at the University of South Carolina,
where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Higher Education Administration program. He serves
as the President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and is the AERA Division
J (Postsecondary Education) Student Representative for 2025-2027. His research critiques
the landscape of international higher education through the lens of his experience
as an international student of color, focusing on the intersectionally marginalized
and privileged experiences of Indian international graduate students of color and
topics related to minoritized religious and spiritual identities.
Tempestt Johnson
Tempestt Johnson is an AACTE Holmes Scholar, Grace Jordan MacFadden Professor Program
Scholar, and SEC Emerging Scholar at the University of South Carolina where she is
pursuing a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy. Through her work with Black women and girls,
she seeks to call out and critique anti-Blackness and highlight the lived experiences
of Black folks across the diaspora in educational and community spaces. Her research
interests include African American Language in terms of bilingualism, translanguaging,
the lived experiences of Black girls and women, and the intersection between Black
girlhood, African American Language, and dance.
Kerwin Johnson
Kerwin Johnson is an AACTE Holmes Scholar at the University of South Carolina, where
he is obtaining a Ph.D. in the Teaching and Learning Program. His research focus is
culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally sustaining pedagogy and literacy practices
for the Secondary English Classrooms. Kerwin Johnson is from Conway, South Carolina.
While in Horry County, he taught numerous English Courses at North Myrtle Beach High
School for seven years and he now uses that experience to build upon his pedagogy,
research, and praxis. He is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he obtained
a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Concentrations in English and Education) and
an M.A.T. in Secondary English Education. His achievements include being a Dr. James
A. Stoddard Memorial Fellow, Life Scholar, Coastal Carolina Graduate Student of the
Year for the Spadoni College of Education, Member of the National Society of Leadership
and Success, and a presenter for the South Carolina Conference for the Teachers of
English and American Educational Research Association. He aspires to attain professorship
at a university contributing to research and programs that improve educational practices
for students of all backgrounds.
D’Arion Johnston
D’Arion Johnston (she/her) is an AATCE Holmes Scholar at the University of South Carolina,
where she is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program.
Further, she is the Secretary of the Graduate Student Association (GSA). Her research
interest focuses on child centered play therapy, utilizing play therapy for trauma
processing, and imposter syndrome within the counselor education programs.