Extension’s Jennifer Wells Recognized as Holmes Scholar

Jennifer Wells, a regional agent in family and child development with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, was recently honored as a Holmes Scholar by the Auburn University College of Education. Wells, one of three 2009 honorees, joined her peers from the class of 2007 and 2008 as they were inducted into the Holmes Scholars Program.

The three graduate student inductees – Wells, Sydney Freeman and Tonya Exford -- have distinguished themselves as principals, classroom teachers, journal editors, researchers, organizational leaders and volunteers.

“The selection process for these graduate students was rigorous and involved an initial screening, followed by an interview of five finalists,” said Dr. Lora A. Bailey, associate professor of early childhood education and Holmes Scholars adviser. Wells, Freeman and Exford were selected based on their outstanding educational leadership, outreach and professionalism.

The Holmes Scholars Program provides graduate students from underrepresented ethnic groups and students with disabilities who aspire to higher education careers with enriched academic experiences, career training and concentrated professional mentoring. Scholars are selected for a three-year term that provides resources for networking with peers through the Holmes Partnership network and others within academia.

The scholars program directors and the Holmes Partnership organization work to ensure that Holmes Scholar graduates obtain positions as faculty members, K-12 administrators or with education policy organizations. Recipients are chosen through a competitive process and must have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Well’s qualifications covered all four categories -- research, scholarship, publications and outreach – of the scholar program.

“Jennifer has the drive, determination and focus to succeed in life and within the professorate. Academia needs more minds like hers to help change educational policies and practices,” said Dr. Leah Robinson, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology and Holmes Scholar interview committee member.

During her three years with Extension, Wells has directed state, regional and county level projects and provided professional development for individuals in the areas of family life and human development. Before completing a master's degree at Auburn, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tuskegee University. Her post-doctorate goal is to work in a land-grant institution with a split appointment as a university professor and program evaluation specialist with Cooperative Extension.

"I give much of the credit to Alabama Cooperative Extension System because of the opportunities the organization has given me to grow professionally and personally since working here,” Wells said.

“ACES is a wonderful place to work, not only because of its mission but also because of the climate of the organization. ACES administrators are concerned about the well- being of the citizens of Alabama and the well-being of its employees. The environment is supportive of professional development for all employees. It is a place where ideas are given life, and through hard work and dedication, upward mobility is attainable. Working for an organization that cultivates my intrinsic desire for excellence and success brings me peace of mind.”

While a doctoral student in educational psychology, Wells worked her way through the Human Development and Family Studies graduate program at Auburn while employed as a parent educator and case manager with Family and Children's Services in Opelika. Shortly after, she joined the Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program and continued her efforts to help educate and empower disadvantaged families. Her work with these programs and others aimed at preventing dismal outcomes for children and families shaped her research interests in program development, implementation and evaluation focused on human development, family life and childhood outcomes.

"Jennifer has come to recognize the important influence of effective program development, program implementation and program evaluation on quality-of-life issues for families. Her desire to combine her knowledge in family life and child development with the evaluation of educational research, policy and practice makes her highly marketable in the age of accountability," said Dr. Jose Llanes, professor and department head, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology at Auburn.

Posted by dreynold at November 17, 2008 09:20 AM | TrackBack