Donor recognition
Dominique Holloman
Dominique Holloman (BS ’01, AB ’01, MED ’04, JD ’04) works to give the gift of education.
Donor recognition
Dominique Holloman
Dominique Holloman (BS ’01, AB ’01, MED ’04, JD ’04) works to give the gift of education.
At a Glance
Dominique Holloman (BS ’01, AB ’01, MED ’04, JD ’04) credits her experience at the University of Georgia with preparing her for a career in three different industries: collegiate athletics, nonprofits, and public policy and government relations.
She was the first Black Alumni Leadership Council president and helped establish The 1961 Club—a special group of donors, named for the year of desegregation at UGA, that helps foster undergraduate student success.
Dominique continues to support The 1961 Club because she is passionate about removing barriers to education and keeping doors open for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Dominique Holloman (BS ’01, AB ’01, MED ’04, JD ’04) has done it all.
She served as the first president of the Black Alumni Leadership Council. She helped establish The 1961 Club, a giving society honoring the legacy of desegregation at UGA, and she was named to the 40 Under 40 Class of 2017. Dominique serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and previously served on the UGA Foundation Board of Visitors and School of Law’s Alumni Council.
Factor in her role as a mentor to undergraduate students through the UGA Mentor Program and she has no shortage of UGA-related resume items. But she’s not in it for the recognition or advancement.
Dominique’s affinity for UGA is rooted in her transformative experience as a student. Dominique came to Athens as a 17-year-old freshman and left as a 24-year-old law graduate with four degrees. But in so many ways, she’s never actually left.
“Athens is where I grew up and the experiences that I had at UGA shaped my young adulthood,” Dominique said. “I think friendships that I made, the things I experienced, the memories I created left such a warm attachment to Athens.”
Now working as the government affairs manager for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Dominique views public policy and government relations as her third career. She says her ability to make career transitions would not have been possible without the foundation and network she built at UGA.
Dominique introduces moderator Deborah Roberts (ABJ ’82) and An American Marriage author Tayari Jones (M ’98) at the Sept. 2020 Between The Pages virtual book club discussion.
Dominique poses with fellow Black Alumni Leadership Council member Raymond Phillips (BS ’12, MBA ’18) at the 2017 Black Alumni Homecoming Tailgate.
When Dominique reflects on her days on campus, she recognizes that she was free of the burdens that weigh down many students.
“I know there are students on campus who look like me but may not have the same financial support I had,” Dominique said. “I didn’t struggle financially in college because of support from my parents. But I know there are students that do, and that there are barriers to education and completion of education.”
Dominique’s involvement at UGA can be attributed to her love for her alma mater, but it was her realization of the unmet needs of students that compelled her to support UGA financially.
“The biggest thing for me is eliminating of barriers,” Dominique said. “I didn’t have to worry about buying books. I didn’t have to choose between eating or buying supplies for class. All I had to do was show up and go to class. I realize a lot of people do not have that freedom, so I’m passionate about removing barriers for people, whether through scholarships or meal plan support.”
Dominique poses with fellow Black Alumni Leadership Council member Raymond Phillips (BS ’12, MBA ’18) at the 2017 Black Alumni Homecoming Tailgate.
Dominique is determined to remove barriers of all kinds, but she maintains a special focus on the experiences of Black students and alumni. When the UGA Alumni Association formed the Black Alumni Affinity Group in 2015, Dominique stepped up to serve as its first president. She helped craft the vision of the Black Alumni Leadership Council and set a high bar for its work.
“I am so grateful to have had that experience and to have the permission and the trust to create something for a group of people, many of whom feel a disconnect from the university,” Dominique said. “There are some Black alumni who had negative or hurtful experiences while at UGA, so to create a community where people can celebrate and be celebrated, and see their alma mater in a different light, it’s an incredible experience.”
Dominique’s goal was to help other Black alumni reconnect with UGA and see how it has grown and changed. She also hoped alumni would learn how they could support that change. As the council considered how to honor the legacy of the past while displaying hope in the future, the idea of a giving society was proposed by council member Ericka Davis (AB ’93), who later served as the 2019-2020 president.
Dominique (front row, left) poses with members of the Black Alumni Leadership Council and Mary Frances Early (MMED ’62, EDS ’71), the first Black graduate of UGA, at the launch event for The 1961 Club in Jan. 2018.
“Ericka brought the idea to the council and we stood behind it, ran with it and decided it was something that was important,” Dominique said. “We wanted giving to be a tenet of the mission of Black alumni and we wanted to create an engagement point for alumni where they could see immediate impact.”
The 1961 Club launched in 2018 with the support of nearly 1,000 charter members. Contributions to The 1961 Club support the Black Alumni Scholarship Fund and ensure that students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to a college education through scholarships.
“First, I give to The 1961 Club because of the legacy it supports. We have 19,000 Black alumni today, and that was made possible because three people were courageous and brave,” Dominique said. “Second, hearing scholarship recipients’ stories makes you realize what a difference your donation is making in their life, story and trajectory.”
Dominique’s accomplishments have already transformed the Black alumni community and are making a difference in the lives of nine Black Alumni Scholars on campus. Still, she’s not done.
“My ultimate goal is to establish a full ride scholarship,” Dominique said. “I want to take away someone’s financial burden and give somebody the gift of education.”
