Aliya E. Holmes

Dr. Aliya Holmes is a faith-filled scholar dedicated to positively impacting education by enhancing teacher education and student learning through the strategic use of digital tools, innovation, and scholarly research. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Innovation and Partnerships for the School of Education (SOE) at St. John’s University. This Long Island native and Brentwood High School graduate holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, an M.S. in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, all with a specialization in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology, from the University at Albany, SUNY. Dr. Holmes joined St. John’s University in 2004 and, a few years later, was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
As a professor, she worked closely with pre-service and in-service teachers to consider emerging strategies and tools to enhance and transform the classroom learning experience.

Dr. Holmes’ commitment to positively impact those in the margins required her to expand her career beyond the gates of St. John’s to provide K-12 Student Support Services in New York City, including the Brooklyn Bridge Program, Achieve Now Academy, PEAK program, and the ePortfolio Project. As a scholar and public servant, Dr. Holmes chaperoned groups of students on mission trips to South Africa to assist women and children orphaned due to AIDS and HIV. Dr. Holmes recognized the importance of exposing young children to collegiate environments and directed the College Access for All Program at St. John’s for two years to encourage NYC middle school students to consider attending college in their future. She has published several articles on teacher professional development, online learning, teacher empowerment, and technology integration, and has received over $1 million in grants and contracts over the last 20 years. Helping people achieve success is what she finds most rewarding and considers her calling.

In June 2020, Dr. Holmes became the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Faculty Development of the School of Education, where she supported graduate student programming and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, Dr. Holmes was appointed Interim Dean of the School of Education. As Interim Dean, Dr. Holmes strengthened the School of Education’s commitment to its mission of educating, leading, counseling, and inspiring in all environments. Under her leadership, the School of Education’s U.S. News and World Report rankings improved in two categories- Graduate Education and Online Master’s Degrees in Education- placing the division on the top 100 list in both categories. In June 2022, Dr. Holmes assumed the role of Program Coordinator for the Curriculum & Instruction PhD program. With the support of the faculty, she successfully expanded the program into a highly sought-after PhD program in three years.

In September 2025, Dr. Holmes assumed the role of Associate Dean of Innovation and Partnerships. In this role, she collaborates with a team to cultivate partnerships with Catholic, public, and private schools, as well as corporations. Additionally, she continues to make efforts to integrate digital learning, AI, and VR into teacher education at St. John’s and in K-12 classrooms globally.

In her free time, she works with her family, her Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and other civic organizations to inspire positive change in the world. Overall, Dr. Holmes remains committed to excellence, scholarship, and providing opportunities for young scholars to engage in rich experiences that transform lives.Educational Technology
Digital Learning
Educational ResearchTechnology Integration
Professional Development
ePortfolios
STEM
Digital and Online Learning
The Digital Divide

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