Elwood F. "Ed" Holton, III, EdD, MBA
Director
School of Leadership & Human Resource Development
Contact
298A Charles E. Coates Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-2779
eholton2@lsu.edu
Education
Doctorate of Education
Adult and Continuing Education/Human Resource Development
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, V; 1991
Master of Business Administration
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, VA; 1980
Bachelor of Science
Business Finance and Management
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, VA; 1978
Biography
Dr. Holton devoted 23 years of exceptional service to Louisiana State University,
where he was Director of the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the
Jones S. Davis Professor of Human Resource Development, Interim Associate Dean for
Distance Learning & Leadership, and Interim Director of the School of Information
Studies. During that time, he worked to establish a one-of-a-kind program for Louisiana,
LSU’s Leadership Development Institute. In December 2023, Dr. Holton returned to LSU
as the Senior Director of LDI and Special Assistant to the Dean of College of Human
Sciences & Education for Leadership Programs. He oversees strategic vision and mission
for the Leadership Development Institute, as well as long range planning, assessment,
advisory board, fiscal management and fundraising. He serves as advisor to the dean
on leadership initiatives, military and veteran initiatives and leadership/workforce
development initiatives. Dr. Holton promotes interdisciplinary research and collaboration
within the college, university, state, and beyond in the areas of leadership and workforce
development while positioning the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education as a national
leader in these disciplines. On June 1, 2024, Dr. Holton was appointed Director of
the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development.
Dr. Holton holds a distinguished record of accomplishments in adult and continuing
education and human resource development. His scholarly work about adult and workplace
learning includes over 200 publications in academic journals and professional articles
and is recognized by adult and continuing education scholars and practitioners around
the world. Dr. Holton has advanced the theory and practice of both adult education
and human resource development through his co-authored books The Adult Learner – 9th
Edition (soon to be 10th edition) and Foundations of Human Resource Development. He
is the founding editor of Human Resource Development Review and a past president of
the Academy of Human Resource Development.
Dr. Holton was inducted into both the Academy of Human Resource Development Hall of Fame and the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.