Holmes Scholars Program
The Holmes Scholars Program at CSUSB, supported by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, provides a supportive environment to doctoral students traditionally underserved in higher education. The goal of the program is to provide mentorship, peer support, and professional development opportunities to Scholars, who will serve as outstanding candidates for future faculty and leadership positions. If you would like more information, please contact our office at edd@csusb.edu. Review a current list of our Ed.D. Program and Faculty Fellows for potential mentors.
- Connect with peers in the Ed.D. Doctoral Program
- Engagement with faculty and/or Ed.D. Program Fellows in regular mentoring meetings
- Membership in a national network of peers with access to dedicated online social networks
- Mentoring opportunities by Holmes Scholar alumni currently in academia and other leadership positions
- Opportunities to present their research at the AACTE Annual Meeting
- Dedicated mentoring programs at the AACTE Annual Meeting
- A job fair at the AACTE Annual Meeting and access to position announcements through the year
- Annual Holmes Scholars Summer Policy Institute in Washington, DC, including participation in AACTE’s Day on the Hill and networking events associated with the AACTE State Leaders Institute
- Attend the AACTE Holmes Scholars® Dissertation Retreat and Research Symposium
- Leadership and professional development opportunities at the school level, campus level, and national level, such as participation in conference presentations and policy/advocacy training
- Two-to three-year commitment to the CSUSB AACTE Holmes Scholars® program
- Attendance to CSUSB AACTE Holmes Scholars® program meetings & sponsored events
- Engagement in collaborative research with annual refereed publication and presentation deliverables
- Excellent academic standing in your program
- Collaboration with CSUSB faculty, community partners, and national educational partners
- Participation in/facilitation of community-engaged projects
- Engagement in selected specific professional organizations both locally and nationally
- Annual attendance at the AACTE National Conference
- Participation in at least one AACTE Summer Policy Institute
- Peer-mentoring of a first-year Holmes Scholar (in years two and three)
Meet our Holmes Scholars
Pablo Gutierrez, originally from Mexico City, states that his life revolves around three pillars: God, family, and friends. He is a persistent individual with a strong desire for continuous personal and professional growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Actuarial Science from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with dual foci in Cyber Security and Marketing Management from CSUSB.
He is currently employed full-time as an International Admissions Evaluator at CSUSB. Throughout his professional journey, he's gained experience working at Oracle as a Business Development Consultant and as a Sourcing Recruiter.
Some of his hobbies include watching movies and series, playing video games, and hiking. Traveling and exploring the world also holds a special place in his heart, as he's been fortunate to visit many countries, but the most unforgettable experiences occurred during his Study Abroad programs in South Korea, China, and Germany. Building friendships with individuals from various countries and backgrounds was a truly enriching experience for him.
Sailesh Maharjan has been an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) since 2017. He is experienced in mindfulness meditation and delivers talks on Buddhist Philosophy. Sailesh is a doctoral student at CSUSB focusing on Higher Education Leadership and has been selected as one of two Holmes Scholars from Cohort 16.
Sailesh was a Theravadin Buddhist monk for 16 years. He spent 12 years in Sri Lanka and received two degrees in Buddhism and one in Psychology from the University of Peradeniya. In 2012, he came to the United States as a religious worker to serve the Moreno Valley and San Bernardino communities for several years before pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at CSUSB.
As a professor, he incorporates modern technology and novel evidence-based tools in his classes. He intends to use technology and research findings to address student mental health challenges, equitable assessment tools, student readiness, resource accessibility, and inclusiveness in higher education. He also focuses on incorporating mindfulness in higher education to develop programs to bolster faculty success in delivering quality education. Sailesh plans to use his doctoral training to identify problems and implement solutions within and beyond the college, county, and state education system.
Sailesh Maharjan loves woodwork, painting, cooking, and gardening with his wife and daughter.