For Brandi Crawford, pursuing doctoral study has always been about more than personal academic achievement. It is about using research, leadership and lived experience to help create more equitable environments for students in higher education.

Crawford, a doctoral candidate in higher education leadership at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development and a Holmes Scholar, has built her career around supporting students and addressing systemic barriers that affect their success. “I have a professional background in student affairs, accessibility services and equity-focused programming,” Crawford explains. “Throughout my career, I have worked in roles that center on student support, particularly for historically marginalized and first-generation college students.”

This professional experience now informs her research, which examines financial environments at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and how they shape staff experiences and student support systems.

“I was inspired to pursue doctoral studies to move beyond practice and contribute to the field through research, policy and systems-level change,” she says. “My goal is to bridge the gap between the lived experiences of students and staff and institutional decision-making.”

Finding Community Through the Holmes Scholars Program

While Crawford’s professional experiences laid the foundation for her doctoral work, the Holmes Scholars program has played an important role in shaping her journey as a scholar.

“I became a Holmes Scholar because of the program’s commitment to supporting scholars of color and its focus on leadership, research and development,” Crawford says. “The emphasis on community, mentorship and connecting with like-minded, equity-focused peers stood out.”

For Crawford, the program provides a community that affirms scholars’ identities and values their lived experiences. “The Holmes Scholars program offers more than academic support,” she says. “It affirms identity, fosters leadership and prepares scholars to make meaningful contributions to the field.”

“The Holmes Scholars community has provided me with a sense of belonging and support, which is essential in a doctoral program,” Crawford explains. “It has connected me with peers and mentors who understand both the academic and personal challenges of this journey.”

The network also provides encouragement during moments when the demands of doctoral study feel overwhelming.

“It has provided an outlet and a sounding board when we need a little encouragement and motivation,” Crawford says.

Growing as a Scholar and Practitioner

Through the Holmes Scholars program, Crawford has gained opportunities that have expanded both her professional network and her development as a scholar. “These include conference participation, connections with scholars across institutions and exposure to current issues in education,” she says.

Those experiences have helped Crawford refine how she connects her professional work with broader scholarly conversations about equity and access in higher education.

The Holmes community has also reinforced an important perspective that Crawford brings to her work—the idea that professional experience and scholarship are connected.

“The community has encouraged me to see myself as a scholar-practitioner—someone whose professional experiences are valuable and can inform research and practice,” she says.

Leading Change in Higher Education

Crawford’s research and professional work remain grounded in a commitment to advancing equity in higher education. In her current role supporting students’ basic needs, she sees firsthand how institutional barriers can shape students’ academic experiences.

“In my current role, I witness how systemic barriers affect student success,” she says.

Her long-term goal is to continue working in leadership roles where she can design programs and policies that address those barriers while also contributing to research that informs institutional decision-making.

“Ultimately, I want to help create more inclusive and supportive environments where all students have the resources they need to thrive.”

A Community Committed to Impact

For Crawford, the Holmes Scholars program stands out because of its shared commitment to equity and collective responsibility within the field of education.

Unlike many academic spaces that emphasize competition, Crawford says the Holmes program fosters collaboration and purpose.

“It creates a space where scholars find academic support and affirmation of their identities and experiences,” she says. “It is a community that values collaboration over competition and emphasizes giving back to the field.”

That sense of shared mission is what makes the experience so meaningful, and an integral part, Crawford shares, of her doctoral experience.