Dr. Michael K. “Kenny” Holt named the founding Dean of the WSSU College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Winston-Salem State University is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael K. “Kenny” Holt has been appointed as the founding Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Holt has an impressive record of academic innovation, executive leadership, and civic engagement that has been essential in advancing the mission and strategic goals of the institutions he has served throughout his career.
He recently held the position of Founding Dean of the Ray and Dorothy Young School of Business, Technology, and Design at Louisiana Christian University. Prior to this, he served as Dean of the School of Business at both Houston Baptist University and Middle Georgia State University. Throughout his career, Dr. Holt has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing innovative, market-driven academic programs that not only increase enrollment but also promote student success.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Holt earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Union University, followed by a Master of Science in Economics from Louisiana State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Memphis, with academic specializations in Organizational Behavior and Strategy.
Dr. Holt has authored or presented more than 40 academic articles and conference presentations. His leadership extends beyond higher education into public service; he previously was elected to serve on the Jackson (TN) City Council, was a nominee for the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and chaired the Board of Directors for Leaders Credit Union.
As Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Holt will provide oversight for the undergraduate programs in accounting, economics, finance, and business administration, and the MBA graduate program.
“Under the leadership of Chancellor Bonita J. Brown and our newly appointed Provost, Dr. Stevie Lawrence II, the future is very bright for WSSU. I consider myself blessed to be joining the Ramily.
As we re-launch the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, our focus is to prepare our graduates for the emerging opportunities of tomorrow. We are going to build a curriculum that enables students to become leading-edge entrepreneurs and assume leadership roles in the organizations they serve regionally and globally,” said Dr. Holt.
