Meet Dr. Stacy Gee Hollins

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Stacy Gee Hollins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Stacy Gee, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I discovered my purpose, where I found my joy. After experiencing job loss in the private industry, I pivoted to teaching technology classes to individuals and organizations through my own business for income. Quickly, I realized my passion for helping people learn technology. While working with audio equipment at a church, a member approached me to assist in teaching GED courses for their organization. This opportunity ignited a deep sense of fulfillment as I guided returning students toward achieving their educational goals. In the early 2000s, I became the first to adopt an online platform for teaching GED courses, furthering my commitment to blending technology with education.

My affinity for people, technology, and teaching merged seamlessly. I extended my teaching endeavors to after-school programs at St. Louis Community College (STLCC) and with individuals facing mental disabilities through the non-profit, Discovering Options. Eventually, my dedication led to a full-time position as a professor and program director at STLCC.

Though initially hesitant to step away from direct classroom instruction, my journey into leadership roles has taught me the profound impact one can have on student success from a broader perspective. Advocating for students and shaping institutional policies has become another source of joy, allowing me to make a lasting difference in the community and educational landscape.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As the Interim Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business (ABSB), I work to ensure students and community members receive the best education possible through great faculty, great programming, and great partnerships.

I’m most excited about the ABSB Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship facility that will be opening this summer. It will be a hub of innovative and entrepreneurial activities for our community, scholars, faculty, and staff. It’s a beautiful new extension of the Harris-Stowe campus at the corner of Compton and Olive in midtown St. Louis.

At Harris-Stowe’s ABSB, we have a new 18-credit hour Entrepreneurship Certificate that can be completed in two semesters and provides a high level of support for those wanting to start or scale their business. What’s special about this is that you do not have to be a full-time student to enroll in this certificate program.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Technology – It’s important to learn more about technology by taking courses and using LinkedIn Learning or Coursera as potential options.

Education – Education can come from many different sources including community colleges, universities, TED Talks, articles, YouTube, conferences, and more.

Relationships – Build authentic relationships and be sure not to burn bridges along the way.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Harris-Stowe State University caters to a significant number of economically disadvantaged students, so I always seek allies who commit to the University and ABSB with their time, talent, and finances. Securing funding enables me to offer scholarships, alleviate financial burdens, and provide graduation support for students who have exhausted their grants and financial aid.

I actively cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with entities that provide financial backing to the business school. These partnerships not only establish a direct avenue for talent acquisition but also involve organizations in tailored programming, affording students practical, hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, I identify subject matter experts who can contribute to teaching specialized topics. While we have established some great partnerships, there is ample opportunity to expand our network of supporters and collaborators.

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