Dr. AIGNER HOLMES
Roselle
Summary
An accomplished higher education leader seeking to drive student success and institutional excellence as a Dean / Associate Dean / Chief Officer, leveraging strategic vision, inclusive leadership, and innovative program development to foster vibrant academic communities.
Experienced with academic administration, curriculum development, and faculty mentoring. Utilizes strategic planning to drive institutional growth and improve student success. Track record of fostering collaborative environments and enhancing academic standards.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Dean of Admissions & Student Life
Ackerman Institute
01.2026 - Current
- Lead recruitment, admissions, and enrollment operations for advanced clinical training programs, managing applicant pipelines, interviews, and onboarding processes.
- Facilitate educational presentations, admissions workshops, and information sessions for prospective students, universities, and community partners.
- Teach and present instructional content related to clinical training pathways, professional development, relational practice, and student success initiatives during institutional events and training seminars.
- Collaborate with faculty and training leadership to support curriculum promotion, trainee engagement, and academic programming initiatives.
- Develop partnerships with graduate programs, professional organizations, and community agencies to strengthen recruitment pipelines and expand institutional visibility.
- Implement data-driven admissions tracking systems and KPI reporting structures to monitor inquiry growth, conversion rates, and enrollment outcomes.
- Support student retention and trainee success initiatives through individualized advising, onboarding support, and student-centered engagement strategies.
- Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with marketing, clinic operations, and training departments to enhance organizational efficiency and student experience.
Adult ESL Instructor (Contract)
Immigration Rescue Committee
02.2024 - Current
- Develop and deliver engaging ESL curricula, fostering language proficiency and cultural integration for diverse adult learners in a supportive, technology-enhanced classroom.
- Key Achievements:
- Developed and delivered differentiated lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards.
- Integrated multimedia and tech tools to enhance language comprehension and engagement.
- Conducted individual assessments and implemented personalized instruction strategies.
Founder & CEO, Community Education/Workforce Development Consultant
I.Y.O.T Inc.
03.2021 - Current
- Pioneered a consultancy to empower educational institutions and nonprofits, delivering tailored workforce development and leadership training to enhance student outcomes and organizational efficiency.
- Key Achievements:
- Secured 100% client satisfaction by designing customized academic and career planning tools, boosting student readiness by 25%.
- Elevated teacher performance by 30% through targeted coaching and curriculum analysis, aligning programs with state standards.
- Increased nonprofit program reach by 40% for underserved populations, including youth with autism and homeless individuals.
- Facilitated leadership workshops, improving operational productivity by 35% for community development organizations.
Chief Operating Officer of Education
Boys and Girls Club
03.2022 - 08.2024
- Oversaw strategic operations across six centers, elevating student success metrics while ensuring compliance with state regulations and fostering a culture of innovation.
- Key Achievements:
- Boosted district graduation rates by 15% in one year via innovative academic support and advising programs.
- Enhanced college application submissions by 50% through targeted pre-college initiatives, with 40% of students earning college credits.
- Increased programming efficiency by 30% and productivity by 45% with data-driven resource optimization.
- Grew membership by 25% and revenue by 45%, while improving employee retention by 40% through a positive culture.
- Reduced faculty turnover by 25% and increased satisfaction by 15% with a comprehensive development program.
EOF Director/Associate Dean of Student Success
Atlantic Cape Community College
01.2020 - 03.2022
- Provided visionary leadership for student success initiatives, accessibility programs, and compliance efforts, ensuring alignment with institutional and state mandates.
- Key Achievements:
- Boosted student retention by 30% by redesigning first-year experience programs, introducing intrusive academic advising models, and aligning services with career pathway support.
- Successfully secured $90,000 in grant funding by writing outcome-focused proposals, building collaborative partnerships, and expanding access to academic support services.
- Enhanced academic support systems that led to an additional 20% increase in student persistence, leveraging co-requisite course models and early alert technologies.
- Directed onboarding redesign to improve advising accuracy, resulting in fewer program mismatches and higher degree plan adherence.
- Partnered with career and transfer offices to align academic coaching with post-graduate planning, emphasizing industry-recognized credentials and four-year transfer articulation.
Senior Director of Student Support
DeVry University
02.2016 - 01.2020
- Directed cross-functional teams to develop and implement comprehensive student support programs, fostering academic and career success for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Key Achievements:
- Increased student retention by 20% by integrating early risk assessments into advising and coordinating wraparound services to support students through personal, financial, and academic challenges.
- Implemented cross-campus intervention protocol with targeted advising for underserved populations, improving re-enrollment rates semester over semester.
- Fostered an inclusive community for diverse student populations, actively supporting neurodiverse, ESL, and LGBTQ+ students.
- Streamlined advising team workflows and onboarding processes, reducing advisor caseloads and improving student-advisor continuity across terms.
Student Account Specialist
Saint Peter’s University
11.2013 - 02.2016
- Streamlined financial processes for students, providing empathetic advising and ensuring accurate billing to support enrollment and retention.
- Key Achievements:
- Managed private loan certification and Title IV compliance processing across multiple semesters, supporting financial continuity and institutional audit readiness.
- Coordinated financial literacy workshops and one-on-one support sessions for students navigating aid packages, tuition payment plans, and external scholarships.
- Partnered with enrollment management to improve financial clearance procedures, reducing registration delays and increasing student satisfaction.
- Maintained strong relationships with third-party scholarship agencies and lenders, ensuring timely disbursement of funds and accuracy in student billing.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Keller University
Iselin, NJ05-2025
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) - undefined
Saint Peter’s University
Jersey City, NJ01-2020
Master of Arts - Federal Law
Saint Peter’s University
Jersey City, NJ01-2015
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Saint Peter’s University
Jersey City, NJ01-2012
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Academic Leadership
- Student Retention
- Program Development
- Grant Writing
- Staff Development
- Inclusive Education
- Budget Oversight
- Credentialing & Compliance
- Community Engagement
- Workforce Readiness
- Operations Management
- Accessibility Services
- Higher Education Governance
- Public Speaking
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Institutional Advancement
- Organizational development
- Academic administration knowledge
- Academic goal advisement
- Student retention
- Faculty communication
Certification
- Health Services Certification | Keller University, Iselin, NJ | 2023
- Human Resource Management Certification | Keller University, Iselin, NJ | 2022
- Entrepreneurship Certification | Keller University, Iselin, NJ | 2021
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
- Visionary leader with a proven track record of spearheading academic, operational, and community initiatives that elevate institutional performance.
- Expert in designing and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance student retention, satisfaction, and graduation rates.
- Champion of inclusive learning environments, fostering equity for underserved populations, including neurodiverse, ESL, and first-generation students.
- Skilled in cultivating partnerships with external organizations to expand resources and support systems for students and families.
- Accomplished grant writer and fundraiser, securing critical funding to advance institutional goals and programming.
- Renowned for building high-performing teams through innovative staff development and leadership training programs.
- Strategist adept at aligning operational frameworks with institutional missions to achieve sustainable growth.
- Recognized for resolving complex disputes and facilitating stakeholder collaboration to ensure seamless organizational functioning.
VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- YMCA (Newark, NJ) | Youth Mentor & Event Organizer | Jan 2020 – Present
- Clear View Baptist Church (Newark, NJ) | Scholarship Coordinator | Jan 2012 – Present
- Covenant House (Newark, NJ) | Volunteer for Youth Services | Apr 2020 – Present
- Member | Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Appointed Chair, Institutional Retention Strategy Committee (2021)., Member, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Recognized for Community Leadership, 2020., Outstanding Volunteer Award, Covenant House, Newark, NJ, 2022.
Timeline
Dean of Admissions & Student Life
Ackerman Institute
01.2026 - Current
Adult ESL Instructor (Contract)
Immigration Rescue Committee
02.2024 - Current
Chief Operating Officer of Education
Boys and Girls Club
03.2022 - 08.2024
Founder & CEO, Community Education/Workforce Development Consultant
I.Y.O.T Inc.
03.2021 - Current
EOF Director/Associate Dean of Student Success
Atlantic Cape Community College
01.2020 - 03.2022
Senior Director of Student Support
DeVry University
02.2016 - 01.2020
Student Account Specialist
Saint Peter’s University
11.2013 - 02.2016
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) - undefined
Saint Peter’s University
Master of Arts - Federal Law
Saint Peter’s University
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Saint Peter’s University
Master of Business Administration (MBA) -
Keller University