Alexis Briggins, a doctoral candidate in counseling and educational psychology, has been named the Holmes Scholar of the Month from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Briggins said she was both surprised and incredibly honored by the recognition.

“This award is especially meaningful because it comes from a community of scholars who share a commitment to equity, leadership, and service in education. The Holmes Program has been a space where I've found support, mentorship, and belonging,” Briggins said, adding, “When I first arrived at IU, Carl Darnell played a tremendous role in my journey as a Black doctoral student, supporting and encouraging me as I stepped into the Holmes community. To be recognized by this network highlights not just my individual efforts, but the collective encouragement, mentorship, and collaboration that have helped me get here.”

Briggins’s research broadly explores the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, relationships, and mental health, with a particular focus on Black and Biracial women. Currently, she is pursuing her dissertation study alongside collaborative autoethnographic projects that center the voices of scholars of color in counseling psychology and multiracial women, work that underscores the importance of decolonizing psychological research and practice by privileging lived experience as a form of knowledge production. Briggins is also the President of the IU AACTE Holmes Scholars Program, which is housed in the SOE.

Outside of the SOE, Briggins is actively engaged in community-based initiatives such as the Black Women’s Research Community through the IU Libraries and programming with the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. In addition, she serves as the Assessment and Mental Health Initiative Graduate Assistant for the Groups Scholars Program, where she designs culturally responsive mental health programming. She also holds leadership and service roles with the Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center, the Indiana Psychological Association, the IU Mental Health Advisory Committee, among others. 

“Across these commitments, I work to bridge research, clinical practice, and advocacy in ways that uplift and empower marginalized communities,” Briggins said.

“I want to express gratitude for the mentors, colleagues, and students who’ve supported me throughout my journey. In particular, I am deeply thankful for my advisor, James Brooks, whose guidance and encouragement have been invaluable, and for my Groups Scholars, who continually keep me uplifted and remind me of my ‘why’ in pursuing this Ph.D. This recognition reminds me that the work we do in education is not just about research and teaching, but also about building community and creating lasting impact,” she added.