Cheron Nicole “Peaches” Hunter received her doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in reading education from Auburn University on Monday, Aug. 9, at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn.

Selected as a Holmes Scholar in 2006, Hunter was elected national president of the organization in 2007. Already a two-time graduate of Auburn with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, the Birmingham native is also a Troy University alumna, having earned an education specialist degree and a certification in educational leadership from that university.

She taught for six years in the Opelika City Schools system as a second-grade teacher. She has presented her research on multicultural children’s literature and pre-service teacher development at numerous local, state and national conferences. She has earned a number of awards and honors, including the Auburn University President’s Graduate Opportunity Program Award, the Troy University African-American Fellowship and the 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award courtesy of the Auburn University Student Government Association.

Hunter is now an assistant professor of reading education at Troy University’s Phenix City campus. She is the daughter of Bettie Johnson-Hunter and Ronald C. Hunter, both of Birmingham, and the granddaughter of Dazarine Hunter of Demopolis and the late Willie I. and Elma Johnson, formerly of Demopolis.