Member Spotlight

A conversation with NACRO member Jason Holloway, Assistant Director of Business Development at The University of Memphis

June 12, 2023

How long have you been in corporate relations?

I have been in this specific role as Assistant Director of Business Development at The University of Memphis since October 1st, 2022.

Can you tell us a little more about your career in corporate relations?

Sure! Although, I started in this position on October 1st, 2022, I have an ongoing 6-year career of development of partnership programs between businesses and higher education. I have been in higher education for 14 years and counting now.

How long have you been a NACRO member and why did you decide to become a member?

I am a rookie to NACRO, joining the organization in March 2023. My position at the University of Memphis was newly created. I set out to contact direct supervisors of job postings with similar duties around the country, with the idea to create a network and find out best practices in the industry. My first contact suggested the group NACRO. I immediately went to the site, researched, and attended the next event. The event was the 2023 NACRO Corporate Engagement Bootcamp. It was at this event, VIRTUALLY, that I knew I had found my home. I learned so much during the two-day event that I knew it was a must to join!

Can you tell us about your experience at NACRO Bootcamp?

My experience at the NACRO Bootcamp was amazing! It provided me with information, ideas, and most importantly welcoming colleagues that were there to help see everyone succeed. The bootcamp lead to in-depth one-on-one virtual meetings with colleagues on implantation of best practices at their campuses.

How have you been able to use that content in your current role?

Yes, I have reignited the conversation of properly stewarding corporate relations throughout my campus centrally. I have also been able to define corporate relations from a workforce development aspect using metrics and research from the white papers that were introduced to me during the bootcamp.

If you plan to attend the 2023 NACRO Conference, what aspects of the conference are you most looking forward to?

As a new member, I’m looking forward to the holistic insights on campus wide structuring and best practices across the nation from other institutions on topics such as engagement models to campus wide collaboration.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining NACRO?

Join now! This group is a great space to address topics for to research, to troubleshoot, and to be innovative! Resources that come from NACRO can lead to life changing practices at your institutions and for the communities that you serve!

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

One fact about me is that I enjoy the creation of music. I even have a track listing on YouTube of music which I wrote, sung, and produced. Never ask me to sing though…unless it’s karaoke.