Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we can provide the opportunity for bright, young scientists to receive an advanced education while paying tribute to the extraordinary contributions of James Holland.
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Endocrinologist James Holland earned over two dozen teaching and service awards during his 31-year career at IU. Among his many awards, he received the Student Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty, the Herman B Wells Lifetime Achievement Award, Indiana University Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching Award, the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the Chancellor’s Medallion for his “transcendent service to the Bloomington campus.” Between 1979 and 1998, Professor Holland was also a seven-time recipient of the Senior Class Award for Teaching Excellence in Biology and Dedication to Undergraduates, an award voted on by senior biology majors.
He worked tirelessly to address the needs of minority students on the Bloomington campus. Professor Holland joined forces with Professor Herman Hudson to found the Minority Achievers Program and the Mathematics and Science Scholarship Program. The programs were renamed in 2003 to honor the efforts of these two men: MAP became the Herman C. Hudson Scholars Program, and MASS is now the James P. Holland Scholars Program. Holland worked with other biology staff members to create the Summer Enrichment Program, which was designed to interest Indiana minority high school students in science by bringing them to campus for classes and hands-on laboratory experience. He led the program, which was renamed in his honor in 2000, from its inception. Prior to his death in 1998, a one-time-only minority fellowship was created in Holland’s name. This award was used as the model for the endowed fellowship that exists today.
Michael Kwakye—who hails from Fishers, Indiana—is a first-year Ph.D. student in the IU Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from IU. He received his master’s degree in biotechnology from IU as well.
While earning his master’s degree, Michael worked in a research lab under Professor Peter Hollenhorst, where he gained experience with molecular biology techniques through studying interactions between transcription factors implicated in prostate cancer.
During his first year as a Ph.D. student, Michael will rotate through research labs before deciding on his mentor. His first rotation is in Associate Professor Matthew Bochman’s lab where he is working on a project to measure yeast telomerase activity in vitro using IR labeling.
When asked why he chose IU for his Ph.D., Michael responded, “I chose IU because I found that the Department of Biology is a very welcoming group. It generally endeavors to create a positive environment for its students while also doing great research.”
The fellowship is not open for applications; the award is presented to a first-year Ph.D. student from a group that is underrepresented in the life sciences. Holland was a champion for minority students in science and believed that advanced degrees were crucial to their success. The fellowship provides the tuition, stipend, and health insurance for the selected student.
The James Holland Graduate Fellowship in Biology was established in honor of one of Indiana University’s most beloved professors. The late Jim Holland was a mentor and role model for all students throughout his more than 30 years of service to IU.
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