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Office of President Danielle R. Holley

President-elect Danielle R. Holley

“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.”

— President Danielle R. Holley

Meet Danielle R. Holley

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MHC Forward: The strategic plan for Mount Holyoke College Spring 2024

MHC Forward: the strategic plan for Mount Holyoke

It is my distinct pleasure to present MHC Forward: the strategic plan for Mount Holyoke College. This far-reaching plan, which will take us through the next decade, has been shaped by the vision of students, staff, faculty, alums, trustees and friends. MHC Forward builds on more than 180 years of tradition to guide our next trailblazing chapter.

  • MHC Forward: the strategic plan for Mount Holyoke

Happening at Mount Holyoke

News from the Office of the President

Screenshot from President Holley's segment on WGBH.

Attacks on knowledge are attacks on democracy

Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to WGBH about why the current administration is targeting higher education and why Mount Holyoke is fighting back.

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President Holley on MSNBC

President Holley defends American higher education

Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “MSNBC Prime” about why she believes attacks on higher education are attacks against the fundamentals of our democracy.

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  • Mount Holyoke in the News
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Mount Holyoke College sign in the summer of 2024 with a vibrant green tree behind it.

“We have the right to determine our own missions”

Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “Here and Now” on NPR about the growing tensions between higher education and the federal government.

  • Activism and Social Justice
  • College
  • Faculty
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More news

Meet Danielle R. Holley

Learn more about Mount Holyoke's twentieth president, Danielle R. Holley, from our “20 for 20” series. Over four episodes, Maille Romulus ’24 and Kiera Myrthil ’24 ask President Holley about everything from her preferences for ice cream flavors and her take on Jorge the Goose to deeper questions about the qualities she looks for in a person and who inspires her. Scroll through these videos to learn more.

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President Danielle R. Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 1
Danielle R. Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 2
Danielle R. Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 3
President Danielle R. Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 4
Meet President Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 1
Meet President Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 2
Meet President Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 3
Meet President Holley - 20 for 20 Episode 4

Holley in the News

Lawyers Must Finish the Work After Affirmative Action’s Demise | Bloomberg Law

What will happen without affirmative action in colleges? University leaders fear a lapse in diversity efforts. | The 19th

With Supreme Court Decision, College Admissions Could Become More Subjective | The New York Times

Looming Supreme Court affirmative action ruling has elite colleges on edge | NBC Nightly News

Danielle Holley: Dobbs showed SCOTUS’ ability to disturb ‘everyday lives’ with ‘the stroke of a pen’ | MSNBC

Mount Holyoke Taps Howard Law University Law Dean to Lead College | Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Mount Holyoke College names Danielle Ren Holley as 20th president | MassLive

Mount Holyoke Appoints Black Woman as 20th President, a First in School's 186-Year History | Black Enterprise News

Mount Holyoke names HBCU dean as next president  | Boston Globe

Mount Holyoke names Danielle Ren Holly as its new president  | Daily Hampshire Gazette

Mount Holyoke College names first Black female president | Boston Business Journal

Mount Holyoke College selects first Black woman president in college's history | WWLP-TV (Chicopee, MA)

Mount Holyoke Taps Howard Law Dean as Next President | The Washington Informer

Skating lessons, Glenmeadow grant, and new Mount Holyoke president | WGGB-TV (Springfield, MA)

Mount Holyoke College appoints Danielle Ren Holley twentieth president | The Dig (Howard University)

‘Excited by the momentum’ | Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College Selects Black Woman as President | Essence

President’s Office staff

Department head(s)

President Holley

Danielle R. Holley

  • President
  • Professor of Politics

Staff

Sara English

Sara English

  • Director of Presidential College Events
Rory Mason, Executive Assistant, Office of the President

Rory Mason

  • Executive Assistant
Colleen O'Connor-Rickey

Colleen O'Connor-Rickey

  • Special Assistant and Operations Manager
Bett Schumacher

Bett Schumacher

  • Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College

Ombudsperson

Department head(s)

Vivian Hsu

Vivian Hsu

  • Ombudsperson

Staff

Joan Cinner

  • Ombuds Coordinator

Contact us

Office of the President

The Office of the President serves as the administrative seat of the College, working in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and the officers of the College to execute the College’s bylaws, advance its academic standards, and ensure its fiscal health.

  • 413-538-2500
  • 204 Mary Lyon Hall
Rory Mason, Executive Assistant, Office of the President

Rory Mason

  • Executive Assistant
  • rmason@mtholyoke.edu
  • 413-538-2663
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