Jonathan Holloway concludes his service as Rutgers University’s 21st president on June 30, 2025, after completing his fifth year at the university.
Under Holloway’s leadership, the university climbed significantly in rankings, broke records for undergraduate admissions and exceeded fundraising goals that demonstrate new levels of engagement among alumni.
As he led the 67,000-plus student university through challenging years across higher education, he expanded access and opportunity through programs including the Scarlet Promise grants to help meet the needs of economically at-risk students and the Scarlet Service internship initiative, which established Rutgers’ commitment to civic engagement.
Holloway’s tenure at Rutgers included the launch of the Rutgers Democracy Lab to empower future generations to strengthen democracy. He also developed and taught a Byrne seminar for first-year students focused on improving civil discourse.
Here is a look back at Holloway’s time at Rutgers through photos of pivotal moments over the last five years.
Day one: President Holloway Begins His Tenure During Global Pandemic
Holloway arrived at Rutgers in July 2020 during a worldwide pandemic that forced the 100,000-plus public university community into remote operations. On his first day, he announced he would take a 10% pay cut “in the spirit of shared sacrifice that this moment requires.” He also announced that he would personally donate $75,000 to the Scarlet Promise grant program to help meet the needs of the university’s most economically at-risk students and kicked off a $10 million campaign for the program to help students – especially those who face unforeseen or sudden life-changing circumstances – offset the gap between financial aid and costs.
Rutgers Community Celebrates Return to Campus
Holloway guided the university to a safe return as Rutgers led the nation in vaccination requirements. He addressed an in-person New Student Convocation at Jersey Mike’s Arena in August 2021 as the university community celebrated being back on campus.
President Holloway Attends Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services Dedication
Holloway reaffirmed the university’s commitment to be a national leader in the areas of research, professional training and practical services in support of adults on the autism spectrum during the September 2021 ceremony.
President Launches Faces & Voices Video Series to Meet Rutgers’ Family
After a year of virtual meetings and isolation, Holloway set out to discover Rutgers through in-depth conversations with students, faculty, staff and alumni. The first interview, which debuted in October 2021, featured Eric LeGrand, one of the university's most impactful graduates.
The Inauguration of President Holloway
Following a safe return to campus and 16 months after taking office, Holloway was inaugurated as Rutgers’ 21st president on Nov. 5, 2021, at Jersey Mike’s Arena. During his address, Holloway announced initiatives to make the university a leader in serving the common good, including the creation of the Rutgers Summer Service initiative to provide hundreds of students with paid public service summer internships. He also announced an expanded goal to raise $50 million in three years to support Scarlet Promise grants – a goal surpassed in two years.
President Holloway Attends Excellence Fest
Holloway’s inauguration capped off two days of events, which included an Excellence Fest on November 4, 2021, on the Rutgers University-New Brunswick campus, a virtual academic panel discussion on the value of public service, and inauguration watch parties on Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers Health campuses. Excellence Fest gave President Jonathan Holloway a chance to meet students, faculty and staff, pose for selfies and have some fun with the Scarlet Knight.
President Holloway Joins the Fun When Dance Marathon Returned in Person
Holloway broke out his moves on stage for the first in-person Rutgers University Dance Marathon in two years in April 2022, which raised more than $500,000 for the Embrace Kids Foundation.
President Holloway Enjoys the Crowds at Rutgers Day
Holloway joined the crowds for the return of Rutgers Day on April 30, 2022, his first time at the landmark spring event, calling it “a day of wonderful discovery.”
Holloway Presides Over First In-Person Commencement
Holloway told the May 2022 graduates they had “successfully navigated the most uncertain moment in higher education’s history.” Holloway bestowed an honorary degree of humane letters upon Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Remnick, who gave that year’s commencement address.
Holloway Welcomes Students at the Scarlet Service Launch
The first 100 students attended the May 2022 kickoff of the Rutgers Summer Service Internship program, now called Scarlet Service, with Holloway. The initiative grew out of an op-ed Holloway wrote for The New York Times about requiring a year of national public service from all young people before age 25 so they can help others while getting to know others’ similarities and differences through a common purpose. The groundbreaking program provides selected Rutgers sophomores and juniors from Camden, Newark and New Brunswick an opportunity to earn up to $5,000 to complete a 200-hour public service internship over the summer at a nonprofit organization or direct-service government office.
President Holloway Participates in Student Advocacy Day
Holloway traveled with a group of 16 students to Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal student aid funding before members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation. For the past two decades, Rutgers students have traveled to Capitol Hill to put a human face on the need for continued funding and to thank legislators for their support. The April 2023 trip marked the first time students made the trip since the start of the pandemic.
Holloway Bestows Honorary Degree Upon Actress and Alumna Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph, an Emmy Award-winning actress, Broadway star and one of the first women admitted to Rutgers College more than 50 years ago, received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree during the 257th Anniversary Commencement of Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Rutgers Health in May 2023. Ralph encouraged members of the Class of 2023 to chase their dreams and find their voice in a passionate speech that started with her singing and taking a selfie with the crowd.
Scarlet Service Expands to Include Opportunities in Washington, D.C.
Earlier in May 2023, the annual kickoff event for the Scarlet Service program included the first group of students who will spend the summer in Washington, D.C. Holloway attended the event celebrating the growing initiative.
Cultivating Citizenship to Support Democracy
In the fall of 2023, Holloway launched a Byrne seminar for first-year students on “Citizenship, Institutions, and the Public.” The eight-week course examined what it means to be a good citizen and what we should reasonably expect of our institutions through a series of conversations with distinguished leaders from the corporate, political, nonprofit, media, labor and faith communities. For the first class, Holloway sat down with pioneering social entrepreneur Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars.
Rutgers Makes Record-Breaking Gains in U.S. News Rankings
During Holloway’s tenure, the national reputation and visibility of all three Rutgers campuses have grown. Rutgers-New Brunswick jumped to 15th among public institutions in the U.S. News & World Report rankings beginning in September 2023, while, for the first time ever, Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden are each ranked among the top 50 public universities and the top 100 national universities.
Faculty and Staff Honored Through New Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program
Holloway celebrated the first recipients of the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards during a ceremony at the Rutgers Club in December 2023. Holloway announced the new awards program in July 2023 and invited faculty and staff from across the university to nominate their colleagues.
Rutgers Hits Records in Research Funding and Overall Fundraising
Research revenues to university faculty rose 40% during the last four years, Holloway reported at his final annual stakeholder address last fall. Faculty earned a record $970 million in research grants and sponsored programs in fields such as artificial intelligence, climate resilience and mitochondrial biology. New levels in alumni engagement also drew more than $250 million in funds raised last year from more than 34,000 unique donors – 7,500 of whom donated to Rutgers for the first time, Holloway noted.
“That happened because Rutgers donors by the thousands heard our story, shared our values and personally committed themselves to our mission,” he said.
Rutgers Launches the Democracy Lab
Holloway joined university leaders and donors in November 2024 to announce the new Rutgers Democracy Lab at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, a long-term initiative to support civic education and create broad civic engagement opportunities. The lab will draw on students, faculty and researchers to connect with community members, civic groups, practitioners and others to help tackle challenges facing American democracy and society.
“We want to encourage democratic participation at every level and provide generations to come with the tools they need to be informed and involved citizens throughout their lives,” Holloway said.
A Final Rutgers Day
President Holloway attended his final Rutgers Day in April 2025, with a visit to the Rutgers Farm and other spots and exhibits around the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus.
