Dr. Holly Irwin is the vice provost for academic administration (VPAA). She has been a member of the PLNU community since 1998. She began as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology, serving 12 years with the last five years as department chair. Her line of inquiry during this time entailed the impact of learning styles among college students as well as the effect of study abroad experiences on college students. In 2011, after a year of serving as an interim college dean while continuing her chair and faculty responsibilities, she became the full-time dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies and served in that capacity for a total of five years, overseeing seven to eight departments. In 2015, with a role change, she served as the dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences with oversight of seven to eight departments. In 2017, Dr. Irwin became the VPAA for the university.
In her current role, Dr. Irwin oversees the Office of Records, annual Commencement convocations, academic policies, student academic progress, university catalogs, and faculty advising training, and chairs the Institutional Review Board Committee. In addition, she serves as an ex officio member of various university committees.
Dr. Irwin seeks to continue PLNU’s mission of developing students in the educational setting, in a vital Christian community, for the purpose of serving others in their respective professions.
Originally from Kentucky, Dr. Irwin received her undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville in the field of psychology in 1993 and her doctorate from the University of Louisville in experimental psychology in 1997.
