Messages from Former President Jonathan Holloway

Battling Antisemitism with Education – My Congressional Testimony

May 23, 2024
Given the critical importance of the subject matter, I wanted to share with you the text of my Oral Testimony, which is pasted below. In addition, I invite you to read the written testimony that I submitted to the committee this week, which is posted to my site. 

Vandalization of Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers–New Brunswick

April 10, 2024
Hate has no place at Rutgers. Islamophobia and all forms of intolerance come from a place of ignorance. They have no place in our hearts, in our minds, and at our university. 

A Vital Mission and a Shared Humanity

January 16, 2024
To excel in our mission as a community requires that we engage in genuine curiosity and commit ourselves to understanding one another—even around the most difficult and divisive topics. For our community to thrive, we must embrace our shared humanity, with all its messiness and contradictions.

Messages from Former President Jonathan Holloway

Thanking Our Veterans at Rutgers

November 10, 2023
Each year at this time, we pause to honor the women and men who have served this nation in the armed forces. As we prepare to observe Veterans Day tomorrow, these courageous souls have my enduring admiration and gratitude for their commitment to protecting our freedom

Responding to the Violence in Israel and Gaza

October 29, 2023
We, as a community of students, faculty, and staff, cannot bring an end to this violence, but we can operate from a place of compassion and empathy. We can, and must, understand that we are all experiencing this violence in our own personal, and sometimes profound, ways.

Reaffirming Our Commitment to Community

October 18, 2023
In these challenging times, it is vital that we come together to support one another, to listen to each other’s experiences and perspectives, and to engage in dialogue that fosters understanding. We must stand against hate in all its forms, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, and strive to be a safe and supportive place for our students, faculty, and staff.

A Message in These Troubling Times

October 11, 2023
These are deeply troubling times, and emotions are understandably raw as we witness these brutal attacks and the ongoing hostilities. While we can and will disagree on politics and policies, I ask that we be sensitive to one another in recognition of the challenges we are all facing. 

Today's Supreme Court Ruling on Race in College Admissions

June 29, 2023
As you may already know, the Supreme Court of the United States today rendered a decision in two cases regarding the use of race as a consideration in college admissions. Those cases are Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University.

Responding to Violence with Compassion

February 14, 2023
We are devastated by the news that three Michigan State University students were fatally shot, and five more students were critically injured, by a gunman on the MSU campus last night. Our hearts are with our fellow Big Ten institution, whose faculty and staff collaborate with our own and whose student-athletes compete alongside ours, and we grieve the loss of these innocent victims of another mass shooting, another act of senseless violence.

Messages from Former President Jonathan Holloway

Thank You, Veterans at Rutgers

November 11, 2022
I want to offer my own thanks to everyone in our Rutgers family—students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and board members—who is serving or who has served the United States in one of our military branches. We are proud to salute you.

Marking Juneteenth

June 16, 2022
Tomorrow, June 17, Rutgers will begin an annual practice of observing Juneteenth as a university holiday on the third Friday of June, which is also the observance of the state holiday.

Implementation of the Chosen Name Initiative

June 14, 2022
In recognition that some individuals use first names other than their legal names in the course of their daily life at Rutgers, I am pleased to announce that we are taking steps to enable students, faculty, and staff to use their chosen or preferred name in university communications.

Rutgers Forward: University Diversity Strategic Plan

March 30, 2022
After a thoughtful process that began in the first months of my presidency and builds upon effective initiatives already in place at Rutgers, I am pleased to announce the completion of our first-ever Diversity Strategic Plan.

Messages from Former President Jonathan Holloway

Rutgers Will Observe Juneteenth as a University Holiday

November 19, 2021
I am pleased to announce today that Juneteenth will be a recognized as an official university holiday starting in 2022, when it will be observed on Friday, June 17. We will follow the observance of the recently established state holiday, which places it on the third Friday of June.

Gratitude for Our Veterans

November 11, 2021
On behalf of Rutgers and on my own behalf as the proud son of a U.S. Air Force veteran, I want to wish the very best to all our Rutgers students, staff, faculty, and alumni who have served in the armed forces as we observe Veterans Day 2021.

Investing in Faculty Diversity at Rutgers

August 5, 2021
We are pleased to announce a new, university-wide Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative that strategically aligns with the overarching goals we have set for creating systemic change at Rutgers. In establishing this initiative, we are committing up to $45 million from central administration funds over an initial 5-year period.

Statement on Hatred and Bigotry

May 29, 2021
At Rutgers we believe that antisemitism, anti-Hinduism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism, intolerance, and xenophobia are unacceptable wherever and whenever they occur.

From President and Chancellors: The Chauvin Verdict

April 20, 2021
A guilty verdict has been rendered by the jury in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer whose brutal and callous actions during the arrest of George Floyd last May prompted international outrage.

From President and Chancellors: Affirming Our Asian Community

March 11, 2021
Amid rising anti-Asian sentiment and violent hate crimes, Dr. Holloway and the four chancellors express solidarity with the Asian community at Rutgers and around the world.

Statement from President and Chancellors on the Breach of the U.S. Capitol

January 6, 2021
President Holloway and the four Chancellors speak to the community about shared values in light of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

Messages from Former President Jonathan Holloway

We Thank and Honor Our Veterans

November 11, 2020
A Veterans Day tribute to military-affiliated students across Rutgers and to faculty, staff, and alumni who have served in uniform.

With Mellon Foundation Grant, A New Institute for Racial Justice

September 24, 2020
A $15 million Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant will fund the university-wide Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice, a scholarly project with centers based on Rutgers’ New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden campuses.

In Pursuit of Excellence: Our Commitment to Equity

September 15, 2020
Dr. Holloway released an internal report intended as a first step in assessing and strengthening Rutgers’ position as a community in which diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values.

New Senior Vice Presidents to Advance Our Mission

September 3, 2020
President Holloway announces the appointment of senior vice presidents for equity, administration, and strategy, effective September 8.

Rutgers Will Defend and Support Our International Students

July 8, 2020
Our international students are a critical part of our mission, and we will do everything in our power to defend their ability to remain in the United States.

Message from President Jonathan Holloway

July 1, 2020
President Holloway shares his thoughts on the university and its mission.