IDI Welcomes Dr. Vanessa Holmes as the Multicultural Development Manager

September 14, 2022 - Henry Mochida

In September, the Officer for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion welcomed Vanessa Holmes, Ph.D., as the Multicultural Development Manager. In this role, she will work with the education team to address the requests for learning opportunities in a range of diversity, equity and inclusion areas across Michigan State University. 

In addition to other programs, Holmes supports the Implicit Bias Certification program and will be developing educational materials, fellowship program, conversation series and facilitator training workshops.

Holmes brings more than 15 years of experience as a postsecondary professional. Her research focuses on factors associated with increased retention and graduation rates of racial and ethnic minority collegians and how to replicate those factors at similar higher education institutions.

Before joining IDI, Holmes served as a professor, DEI curricular specialist and dean at several postsecondary institutions including Fort Valley State University (HBCU), Southern New Hampshire University, Delta College and University of Texas at Dallas. During this time, she oversaw faculty, curriculum, course development and various administrative functions. In addition, she worked in program evaluation for the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars, as well as MSU Extension as a program leader.

Holmes has a doctorate in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education from MSU and multiple graduate degrees from both The Ohio State University and University of Michigan. She received a Spencer Research Fellowship from MSU to study African American collegians at more selective research institutions. In addition, she attained a master’s fellowship from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate from the Rackham Graduate School, both at the University of Michigan.

Please join IDI in welcoming Holmes back to campus.