Photo by Emma Quirk ‘26. President Holley celebrates with the inaugural procession gathered outside of Mary Woolley Hall.
By Tara Monastesse ’25 and Nina Sydoryk ’25
Managing Editor of Content | News Editor
Though Danielle R. Holley had officially assumed her role as Mount Holyoke College’s 20th President nearly three months prior, excitement remained undiminished at her formal inauguration on Thursday, Sept. 21.
The inauguration was preceded by a pep rally outside Mary Woolley Hall, where students welcomed Holley and other attendees to the ceremony. Donning handmade signs, they cheered loudly to mark the start of the eventful day.
Lined with students, faculty, staff, alums and other members of the MHC and greater Pioneer Valley community, Chapin Auditorium was decorated in vibrant blue for the event.
Students inside waved pom-poms and cheered as Holley filed into the auditorium, accompanied by delegates from over 100 colleges and institutions from across the country and the world.
President Holley formerly served as dean of the Howard University School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and served as a law clerk to Judge Carl E. Steward on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Her extensive legal and scholarly experience, as well as her work in social justice, were highlighted by Inauguration speakers.
Thus far in her career, Holley has received numerous awards, including the inaugural Impact Award from the Association of American Law Schools, the American Bar Foundation’s Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowship Distinguished Alumni Award, the Lutie Lytle Conference Outstanding Scholar Award, the National Bar Association’s Heman Sweatt Award and the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award, according to the Mount Holyoke website. She was twice awarded the Outstanding Faculty Member award during her tenure at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Student Government Association President Maille Romulus ’24 spoke at the inauguration, welcoming President Holley to the College community. In their speech, they commented on the significance of Holley’s inauguration as the College’s first permanently appointed Black president.
“As we stand here in celebration, it’s also important to acknowledge the significance of this milestone,” Romulus said. “The courage, the tension and the resilience of those who paved the way. Today, we reflect on these moments, and I think on the legacy of Black women and people at Mount Holyoke — some of whom we can name, and some whose names are lost to us.”
“I was amazed by the turnout and everyone showing up, and walking out of Abbey to Chapin was kind of emotional,” Romulus said in an interview with the Mount Holyoke News. “Seeing everyone cheer and [Holley’s] face being so happy, I can understand how special this moment was for the community and for President Holley.”
Lela Gallery ’24 reflected on how the event’s many speakers were the most remarkable part of the inauguration for her.
“I was not expecting Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren to give congratulatory speeches, which was really cool,” Gallery began. “It makes me proud to see powerful politicians praising Mount Holyoke!”
Photo by Emma Quirk ‘26. Assembled students cheer and hold up handmade signs welcoming President Holley to the College.
Regarding the speeches themselves, Gallery noted an emotional reaction she had to President Holley’s discussion of her late mother, Dr. Joyce Holley.
“I was moved when President Holley talked about her mom. I couldn’t help but get a little teary-eyed. It reminded me of my great aunt, a grandmotherly figure to me. Like Holley’s mom, she loved her flowers and was proud I decided to go to Mount Holyoke.”
Allayla Atwater ’25 was captivated by Holley’s words at the inauguration.
“Usually with events like this I space out like crazy, but I was enamored with the whole thing,” Atwater said. “My favorite part was when President Holley told us that the yellow flowers covering the auditorium were there to honor her mother. Let's just say that Inauguration had me tearing up multiple times.”
“My favorite part was when President Holley told us that the yellow flowers covering the auditorium were there to honor her mother. Let’s just say that Inauguration had me tearing up multiple times.”
When discussing other speakers whose words resonated with her, Atwater mentioned that of Rhynette Northcross Hurd ’71, who currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees.
“[Hurd] shared her experience as a Mount Holyoke student in the late 60s and early 70s, and how difficult it was to live and contribute to an institution that provided no support for black students at the time. I won’t lie and [will] say that I straight up cried,” Atwater said. “It made me even more proud to be a Black woman at Mount Holyoke knowing that a lot of the opportunities that are provided for me here exist because of the Black women who came before me and fought for them.”
Several members of Holley’s family were in attendance at the event, including her father, Dannye Holley, professor and dean emeritus of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. In an address to the crowd, Dannye Holley described Mount Holyoke’s “fantastic historical mission and its movement towards inclusion,” stating that President Holley would play a key role in shaping the College’s future.
Spirits after the inauguration were kept high the following day by the announcement that Mountain Day, the College’s beloved tradition of hiking Mount Holyoke, would be taking place. In an email on Sept. 22 notifying students of Mountain Day, Holley expressed her desire for this year’s annual tradition to continue the enthusiasm displayed at the inauguration ceremony.
“After the meaningful connections, thought-provoking conversations and joyous celebrations of the Inauguration, I wanted to take advantage of this special moment so we can build on the connections and engagement that came from our community coming together for this historic occasion,” she wrote.
“I truly have high hopes for her, and I bet everyone does, especially after hearing her speak at Inauguration,” Atwater said. “This is truly a time of transformation for Mount Holyoke and I believe that her presidency solidifies this.”