Dr. Howard K. Holness is currently the Chief of Academic Administration at Florida International University, a position he has held since July 2014. In this role, he is the official representative and liaison for the Provost and Executive Vice President with his direct reports that includes 12 deans representing 10 degree-granting colleges issuing over 9,000 graduate and undergraduate degrees annually. Dr. Holness also engages with the Provost’s vice presidents, vice provosts and museum directors to assist in executing their various strategic initiatives in support of these academic units. Previously, Dr. Holness held the position of Assistant Director for the International Forensic Research Institute at Florida International where he aided in the maintenance of the program’s accreditation, advised students during their academic career and provided administrative support to the institute’s faculty on a combined $1Million in annual research expenditures. Dr. Holness was born in Kingston Jamaica and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of West Indies Mona in 2002. He then completed a Master’s in Business Administration in 2005 with the University of New Orleans. In 2013 he earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Florida International University. He is the author of several peer-reviewed works and two book chapters detailing various aspects of forensic science and in 2017 was listed as a top Black Educator by Legacy Miami Magazine.
