Eastern Elementary Education Student Alexis Sanchez of Uncasville Participates in Holmes Master's Program

2018 Feb 21

Eastern Connecticut State University student Alexis Sanchez '19 of Uncasville is one of three students participating in the Holmes Master's Program this year. The program supports students from underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in education. Sanchez majors in Elementary Education.

This year's Eastern participants are developing the talents needed to become agents of change in the teaching workforce, while also earning their master's degree. The program also allows them to work closely with different communities in an effort to engage in research opportunities and advocate for equity and diversity.

"The Holmes Master's Program has given me the opportunity to inspire and encourage underrepresented students to join the teaching force," said Sanchez. "I have only had a handful of minority teachers in my life and would have liked to have had more. There is a dire need for minority teachers nationwide in order to fill the diversity gap in schools. Being part of that movement has been an honor."

It is Eastern's ultimate goal that by participating in this program, the University will be able to create new interest in the field of teaching and raise the percentage of underrepresented students enrolled in Eastern's Education programs.

In order to qualify for the Holmes Master's Program, a student must be a member of a historically underrepresented group and must be a full-time matriculated graduate student in the field of Education. Students also must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, a 3.0 GPA as a graduate assistant, or a 3.5 GPA as a research assistant for graduate coursework. For more information about the Holmes Master's Program at Eastern, contact the Graduate Division at (860) 465-5292, or at graduateadmissions@easternct.edu.