Almost everyone believes that education matters.  As newly appointed Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Stillman College, Anthony Holloman encourages individuals, businesses and foundations to act upon this belief by contributing to funds that make higher education possible for more students.  And while fund raising is critical, Holloman says that helping Stillman students develop relationships with potential employers is also imperative. Tuscaloosa County has become a key destination for industry, and he believes that this can lead to a phenomenal increase in opportunities for students. Since joining the College on July 2, he has begun to forge stronger partnerships with business and industry in order to develop more internship, scholarship and employment opportunities.

“I am so excited about having the opportunity to work for Dr. McNealey at Stillman. Our college has traditionally provided opportunities to underserved populations.  A large percentage of our students are first generation students who will go on to contribute to the greater good of our society,” states Holloman, who notes that Stillman alumni have contributed to society on local, regional, national and international levels.  Holloman points to individuals such as Stillman alumni Lieutenant General Willie J. Williams, who is the third highest-ranking member of the Marine Corp, and Dr. Eddie Johnson, who serves as Alabama’s Deputy State Superintendent of Education.  They are just two examples of the thousands of noteworthy graduates that Stillman has successfully equipped to contribute to society.   

“Education has always been the panacea for the ills of our time.  When depression hits, or when we go through a recession, people often go to school,” states Holloman, who comes to Stillman with 13 years of fund raising experience.  He formerly served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement for South Carolina State University, where he increased private giving by 62% in one calendar year and secured the largest individual gift of $300,000 to support athletics.  He holds a bachelor’s from Johnson C. Smith University, a Master’s of Science from the United States Sports Academy and a certificate in fundraising management from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Holloman says he was fortunate to be around “the best minds” in the fundraising profession and he believes it is critical to model the behavior of successful people.  For Holloman, fund raising is much more than a job—it is an opportunity to help make the dream of securing a higher education a reality for more students.   

By building strong ties to business and industry, Holloman hopes to create a “pipeline” to benefit future generations of Stillman students.  “We are creating partnerships that impact our college in a positive way,” notes Holloman, who hopes to increase the number of career fairs at Stillman in order to bring more industry leaders to campus and give students more opportunities to network with future employers.  

Holloman also aims to increase alumni giving by 25 percent and to grow Stillman’s endowment to $50 million. And he believes that giving begins at home.  Through payroll deductions, Stillman employees have an opportunity to make monthly contributions toward scholarships and other funds that benefit the College.   While almost everyone is vaguely familiar with the tax benefits of making a donation, Holloman seeks to better educate donors about the specific financial benefits of giving. “When people inherit assets, sometimes they don’t realize the liability that may come with those assets.  If you donate inherited assets to Stillman College, for example, you aren’t held accountable for the tax consequences of that inheritance.”  More importantly, Holloman wants donors to understand that, by giving to Stillman, they empower the College to fulfill its mission of preparing students who will lead, serve and help to improve the world we live in.

Most people believe that education matters.  Holloman is challenging donors and potential donors to show what we believe.