Introducing our 20th President

On July 1, 2023, Danielle R. Holley will take office as the twentieth president of Mount Holyoke College. President-elect Holley understands the College’s storied history while being deeply committed to all our College can become — particularly as we continue our work together to create and maintain a culture of belonging that advances the dignity of all who pass through our beloved gates.

Mount Holyoke selects Danielle R. Holley as 20th President

The Mount Holyoke College Board of Trustees has named Danielle R. Holley as the twentieth president of the College. Currently serving as dean of Howard University School of Law, Holley is a scholar of education law and civil rights and an expert on diversity and higher education.

“It is an understatement to say I am excited to join the vibrant and dynamic Mount Holyoke community. ... There hasn’t been a more important and critical time in recent history in which we need students who are empowered through their liberal arts education to go out and improve communities both here in the United States and around the world.”

Danielle R. Holley, President-elect

she/her

Read the announcement

About Danielle R. Holley

Danielle R. Holley is the dean of Howard University School of Law. President-elect Holley is a scholar of education law and civil rights and an expert on diversity in the legal profession and higher education. Dean Holley holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and she was a law clerk to Judge Carl E. Stewart on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

President-elect Holley joined Howard University School of Law in 2014 as the dean and a professor of law. Her scholarship focuses on the governance of public schools, increasing access to higher education, and diversity in the legal profession.

President-elect Holley has won numerous awards, including the inaugural Impact Award from the Association of American Law Schools, the American Bar Foundation’s Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowship Distinguished Alumni Award, the Lutie Lytle Conference Outstanding Scholar Award, the National Bar Association’s Heman Sweatt Award, and the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award. She was twice awarded the Outstanding Faculty Member award during her tenure at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

President-elect Holley serves as the co-chair of the Board of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, on the board of the Law School Admission Council and on the board of the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science. She is a moderator for the Aspen Institute, a Liberty Fellow through the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a fellow with the American Council on Education. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Prior to joining the Howard faculty, President-elect Holley was the associate dean for academic affairs and Distinguished Professor of Education Law at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her career in academia, President-elect Holley practiced civil litigation at Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston, Texas.

Words of welcome and encouragement

“I am excited for Mount Holyoke and Danielle Holley. Congratulations to the Presidential Search Committee on such a great choice! I look forward to working with President-elect Holley this spring to ensure a smooth transition in July.” — Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Interim President

“In addition to her exceptional leadership and ability to cultivate shared purpose, President-elect Holley brings a strong vision for what Mount Holyoke is and, more importantly, what our College can become. She has a strong track record of strategic growth and innovation, which will serve us well. President-elect Holley is widely recognized for her broad intellectual interests and curiosity, as well as for her rigorous advancement of racial and social justice in the legal field and beyond. We look forward to welcoming her to the Mount Holyoke community, particularly as we continue our work together to create and maintain a culture of belonging and a society that advances the dignity of all.” — Board of Trustees Chair Karena V. Strella ’90

“I admire so many things about Danielle Holley. She understands the power of a liberal arts education to create the visionary leaders the world sorely needs. She is deeply committed to advancing equity and justice. She has excellent academic judgment. She is a natural collaborator and great listener. For these and numerous other reasons, Danielle is a marvelous choice to be Mount Holyoke’s twentieth president.” — Dr. Christina Paxson, President of Brown University

“I would like to extend to Dean Danielle Holley my sincerest congratulations on her appointment as the twentieth president of Mount Holyoke College. This is a full-circle moment for me because Dean Holley was my very first hire as the president of Howard University, joining our faculty as the dean of the School of Law and a professor of law in 2014. Dean Holley has led the law school to unprecedented heights, including moving the Howard University Law School rankings into the top 100 in the U.S. News & World Report, establishing the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center and driving applications to all-time highs, to highlight just a few. Her presence and impact will be truly missed on our beloved campus.” — Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, President of Howard University

“President-elect Holley’s wide expertise and knowledge will undoubtedly be an asset to our College and our community. As law and society have become increasingly intertwined, President-elect Holley has enthusiastically risen to meet the critical need for interdisciplinary legal scholarship. She will provide a unique, necessary and advantageous lens through which to focus on the liberal arts.” — Mona Sutphen ’89, trustee and co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee

“I am enormously honored to have had a part in the appointment of President-elect Holley on behalf of our student body. In addition to her demonstrated professional commitment to understanding and practicing the law, she is personally motivated to pursue excellence on behalf of the students, faculty and staff she represents. She will also be dedicated to strengthening inclusivity at our cherished College.” — Yihan Zhang ’25, student representative for the Presidential Search Committee

Introducing our 20th President

Mount Holyoke selects Danielle R. Holley as 20th President

Mount Holyoke community welcomes Danielle Holley

Introducing President-elect Danielle Holley

About Danielle R. Holley

In the news