Education Professor Embraces St. John’s
Mission Through Technology and Service
As the product of four generations of teachers and a father whose
favorite hobby was ‘tinkering’ with broken computers, Aliya Holmes,
Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and
Instruction, The School of Education, certainly had a head start on
her chosen career path. “My mom said teaching was the hardest but
most rewarding job you could have,” said Dr. Holmes, “and helping
my dad fix those computers gave me a special feeling of fulfillment
and accomplishment. I guess it was inevitable that I discovered a
way to combine teaching and technology to shape a professional
career I truly love.”
Dr. Holmes, an expert at integrating innovative pedagogical tools
into the classroom, joined St. John’s in 2004 as an Assistant
Professor of Educational Technology in the Department of Early
Childhood, Childhood and Adolescent Education. Previously, she
spent more than six years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
promoting professional development to support the integration of
technology in classrooms and across content areas.
At St. John’s, Dr. Holmes works closely with pre-service and
in-service teachers to create strategies and tools to incorporate
into the classroom curriculum. She also helps faculty and students
develop electronic and video portfolios for posting resumes,
research and other activities online. “When used appropriately,
technology enhances the educational experience for both teachers
and students,” Dr Holmes says, “but it is not a magical answer.
What it does most effectively is open the door to different ways of
thinking. Everyday I find myself learning and teaching something
new.”
Dr. Holmes’ attraction to St. John’s is more than academic. As a
child, she joined her grandparents in visiting homes for senior
citizens to serve meals and provide comfort and companionship.
Currently, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, a public service
sorority that, among other activities, offers literacy programs for
high school girls. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, she
was part of a group that accompanied St. John’s students to help
the devastated families in the Ninth Ward of the city. Her devotion
to service has extended to visits to Ghana and other nations to
assist those most disadvantaged. Dr. Holmes plans to continue her
service activities through both University-sponsored programs and
organizations with which she has worked in her local
community.
“Service has been a part of my life since I was a little girl,”
said Dr. Holmes. “Over the years I have also learned the importance
of teaching others to help others. I came to St. John’s knowing and
feeling very comfortable with its Vincentian mission. It is an
institution with a heart, a soul and core values that mirror my
own.”