Jonathan Holloway (historian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Holloway
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Holloway in 2023
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| 21st President of Rutgers University | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Barchi |
| Provost of Northwestern University | |
| In office August 1, 2017 – July 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel I. Linzer |
| Succeeded by | Kathleen Hagerty |
| Dean of Yale College | |
| In office July 1, 2014 – July 1, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Miller |
| Succeeded by | Marvin Chun |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jonathan Scott Holloway
1967 (age 57–58) Hawaii, U.S. |
| Relatives | Brian Holloway (brother) |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Yale University (MA, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Confronting the Veil: New Deal African-American Intellectuals and the Evolution of a Radical Voice (1995) |
| Doctoral advisor | David Montgomery |
Jonathan Scott Holloway (born 1967) is an American historian and a leader in education. He is currently the 21st president of Rutgers University.
Holloway was chosen to lead Rutgers University in January 2020. He made history as the first person of color and the first African American to become president of Rutgers. He started his role on July 1, 2020. Before joining Rutgers, he was the provost (a senior leader) at Northwestern University. He also served as the dean of Yale College at Yale University. During his time as Rutgers president, he helped manage the university's response to the 2023 Rutgers University strike. In September 2024, Holloway announced that the 2024–2025 school year would be his last as president. He plans to step down on June 30, 2025.
Growing Up and School
Jonathan Holloway was born in Hawaii. He grew up on military bases in Montgomery, Alabama and Maryland. His father served in the United States Air Force.
In high school, Holloway was a talented football player at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. He was even recognized as an "All-American honorable mention" by USA Today.
He went to Stanford University to play football as a linebacker. He graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies. While at Stanford, he played alongside Cory Booker, who later became a U.S. Senator. Holloway then earned his Ph.D. in history from Yale University in 1995.
His Career in Education
Holloway began his teaching career at the University of California, San Diego. In 1999, he returned to Yale and became a professor there in 2004.
In 2005, Holloway was appointed as the "Master" (now called "Head") of Calhoun College (now Grace Hopper College) at Yale. From 2009 to 2014, he led the group that oversaw Yale's student housing colleges. Students respected him for being friendly and involved in campus life. He was considered for the role of dean of Yale College in 2008. In May 2014, he was appointed as the dean, becoming Yale's first Black dean.
As dean, Holloway supported guidelines about Halloween costumes during student protests in 2015. He also supports programs like affirmative action, which aims to give fair opportunities to people from groups that have faced discrimination.
On August 1, 2017, Holloway left Yale to become the provost of Northwestern University.
Holloway has written several books about history. These include Confronting the Veil (2002) and Jim Crow Wisdom (2013). He also wrote The Cause of Freedom: A Concise History of African Americans (2021) and African American History: A Very Short Introduction (2023).
Leading Rutgers University
On January 21, 2020, Rutgers University announced that Jonathan Holloway would be its twenty-first president. He started his new job on July 1, 2020. He took over from the previous president, Dr. Robert L. Barchi. Holloway is the first Black president in Rutgers' long history.
As president, Holloway has set goals for Rutgers. He wants the university to become carbon neutral by 2040, meaning it will not add carbon to the atmosphere. He also started a summer internship program focused on public service. He launched a fundraising effort that raised $10 million for student financial aid in his first year. He later expanded this goal to $50 million by the end of 2024.
In April 2023, some unions at Rutgers went on strike. This was the first strike by academic staff in the university's 257-year history. Classes and research were paused during this time. Holloway did not support the strike.
In September 2023, the Rutgers senate voted that they had "no confidence" in Holloway's leadership. This vote happened after some of his decisions were not popular. These included not renewing the contract of a popular chancellor and threatening legal action during the strike.
On September 17, 2024, Holloway announced that the 2024-2025 academic year would be his last as president. He said he would not seek to extend his contract. He stated, "There is plenty to do before I leave office on June 30, and I remain focused on that work." He also believes that "Rutgers is on the rise and is earning the respect it has long deserved."
His Family Life
Jonathan Holloway is married to Aisling Colón. They have two children, a son named Ellison and a daughter named Emerson. His older brother, Brian Holloway, used to play professional football in the NFL.
