Photo caption: College of Education & Human Development Dean Paul Alberto shakes hands with Jayan Anderson, the 2024-2025 recipient of the Vivian Ophelia Spence Perrimon Scholarship, as Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education Chair Caitlin Dooley and donor Geri Thomas watch.
story by Claire Miller
Educational psychology doctoral student Christy Jarrard has spent the last three years working with Distinguished University Professor Daphne Greenberg in the College of Education & Human Development’s (CEHD) Adult Literacy Research Center.
In the center, she has helped develop a civics curriculum that supports English language learners preparing for their citizenship exam, engaged with colleagues in the Coalition on Adult Basic Education and learned more about conducting research in adult education.
Jarrard received two scholarships this year – the Amy R. Lederberg Award for Outstanding Research in Educational Psychology and the Joanne R. Nurss Endowed Scholarship in Life-Long Literacy – which have given her the financial support to continue her graduate studies.
“Being at a university that recognizes and supports the contributions of student researchers is something that I am extremely grateful for,” she said. “Receiving both the JoAnne R. Nurss Award and Amy R. Lederberg Award is truly an incredible honor.”
Jarrard is one of several CEHD scholarship recipients recognized at the college’s Scholars Recognition Luncheon on April 21. This event brought together students who received CEHD scholarships during the 2024-2025 academic year and the donors who made these awards possible.
“The College of Education & Human Development has some of the most generous donors,” said Paul Alberto, CEHD dean. “They’ve created scholarships that recognize students in content areas – math teachers, adult learning professionals, early childhood educators – and have given to moms and dads who are parenting while attending school. They’ve supported remarkable undergraduate and graduate students who will contribute all that they’ve learned in our programs to their professions.”
Darryl Holloman, Georgia State University alumnus and former dean of students for the university, knows how much a scholarship can make a difference for a student – whether it’s covering the cost of books, helping them pay tuition or providing other financial support to make their academic journey possible.
He established the CEHD’s David Jemel Holloman Memorial Scholarship in honor of his brother, and this scholarship allows him to both give back to his alma mater and support undergraduate students who will become early childhood and elementary teachers.
“The scholarship is so meaningful for me,” he said. “I felt that my brother could have been better supported in the educational system and to be able to support people who are going into education is critically important.”
To see a full list of this year’s scholarship recipients, visit https://education.gsu.edu/scholars.