Holmes Scholars Program

The �ǿմ�ý Holmes Scholar program in the Seidel School of Education offers academic support, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to graduate students studying for degrees in education who self-identify as racially and ethnically diverse.

The National Holmes Scholar program was established in 1991 by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE). The goal of the program is to train educators that support equity, diversity, and cultural competence in public schools and post-secondary education institutions.

�ǿմ�ý Holmes Scholars apply to the program and are selected based on their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and excellent academic standing. �ǿմ�ý Holmes Scholars make a multi-year commitment to the program. Benefits of participation include scholarship awards and participation in national conferences. They also are invited to Washington Week to learn more about education policy, meet policymakers, and advocate for public education. The �ǿմ�ý Holmes Scholars have the opportunity to network with other Holmes Scholar programs at colleges and universities around the United States for a variety of professional development offerings and peer support.

Please meet the members of �ǿմ�ý’s Holmes Scholar Program:

Wynnette Curtis – Holmes Scholar Program Coordinator

Wynnette D. Curtis
Holmes Scholar Program Coordinator- �ǿմ�ý

Wynnette Curtis currently serves as the Holmes Scholar Program Coordinator at �ǿմ�ý. Wynnette is the Program Coordinator for Diversity Initiatives for the Seidel School of Education. Wynnette also serves on the Advisory Council for the May Literacy Center in the Seidel School of Education.

Wynnette has previously worked in the Wicomico County Public School system and she also was the director of an adult literacy program for the Wicomico Public Libraries. Wynnette holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an M.A. in Reading (Urban Education). Wynnette is also a student in �ǿմ�ý’s Ed.D. program for Literacy Studies.
Nina Soto Ramirez - Member

Nina Soto Ramirez

Nina Soto Ramirez is a student in the Contemporary Curriculum Theory and Instruction: Literacy Studies Doctor of Education Program at �ǿմ�ý. Nina has a Master’s of Human Services with a focus on counseling from the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her career in higher education, Nina worked in a variety of roles in social services agencies in Pennsylvania for 7 years. She began her career in higher education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania working as the Resource Coordinator/Counselor for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Nina is currently the Project Director for CAMP at �ǿմ�ý. CAMP provides academic, financial, and social/emotional support to first-year college students from migrant/seasonal farm working backgrounds.
Emily Madison – Member

Emily B. Madison

Emily Madison is a second-year doctoral student in �ǿմ�ý in the Literacy Studies Doctoral Program. Her research interests encompass multiple topics relating to culturally relevant practices with diverse student populations by interrogating race, culture, and language through critical literacy analysis. As a graduate assistant, Mrs. Madison works with the editorial team for the academic journal NCTE’S middle level educators - Voices in the Middle. Through her scholastic endeavors, she is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. In a leadership role, Mrs. Madison served as a member of the Executive Team as the Vice President of Graduate Affairs on University Systems of Maryland Student Council in an advisory capacity to the systems Chancellor and Board of Regents. Additionally in this role, she served graduate students at 16 different higher education institutions representing 172000 constituents. Through her work with USMSC, Mrs. Madison advocates for cultural competency among faculty and students with the inclusivity of various underrepresented student groups while addressing the social emotional needs of all students to ensure the matriculation of a diverse student body.

In her professional capacity and as a lifelong Marylander, Mrs. Madison is a proud middle school English teacher in Prince George's County Public Schools. Over the past 20 years, her dedication as an educator allowed her to serve in multiple capacities at the school and central office level: Classroom Teacher, Instructional Lead teacher, Testing Coordinator, Title I Coordinator, Summer School Coordinator, Program Coordinator for School Improvement, and Mentor Teacher. Notably, her passion extends to the community by fostering parent engagement with renewed efforts in providing instructional support to address the needs of striving student populations. With a commitment to student success, Mrs. Madison has led the charge to mentor middle school girls to support their academic endeavors by addressing their social-emotional needs by increasing linguistic awareness and variation through youthful conversations. Humbly, Mrs. Madison is excited to accept the appointment as a Holmes Scholar at �ǿմ�ý, and looks forward to mentorship, peer support, and professional development program inclusion in the program will provide.
Dr. Sinelia Peixoto - Alumna

Sinelia Peixoto

Sinelia was born in Brasilia, Brazil in 1977. She earned her Bachelor´s Degree in English/Portuguese in Brasilia, and her Master´s Degree in English Literature in Liverpool, England. She is a doctoral candidate at �ǿմ�ý and works as a middle school EL (English Learner) teacher at Georgetown Middle School in Delaware.

For over twenty years, Sinelia taught English as a second language to learners from Pre-K to adult in various schools in Brasilia and in America. Sinelia presented her work in some national presentations, such as LRA, SOMLA, and MDTESOL. She also had her work presented in conventions in the Brazilian government, TEFL, as well as BRAZ-TESOL.

For as long as she can remember, Sinelia has loved to write and most of her books are currently in e-books at Amazon. Why me ? (Por que eu?), Why not me? (Por que nao eu?) and A verdade tem dois lados ou mais (Truth has two sides or more) are the only ones in paper up to now.

Sinelia successfully defended her dissertation and graduated from the Doctor of Education in Literacy Studies program in May 2023. The title of her dissertation is, “Building Bridges: Making Space to Connect Identities in a Newcomer Multilingual Classroom with Writing”. Sinelia continues her work with multilingual learners at Georgetown Middle School in Delaware.
Sandes Saintil - Member

Sandes Saintil

"Hi, my name is Sandes. I am a first-generation graduate student who is enrolled in the Master of Education Reading Specialist Program at �ǿմ�ý. The program provides me with professional development in literacy to help me support the students whom I teach. I teach third-grade ELA (English Language Arts) at Prince Street Elementary School in �ǿմ�ý, Maryland. My wife and I live and teach in Wicomico County. Besides watch my Baltimore Ravens play on Sundays, I enjoy playing the piano and singing on the worship team at my church.