Always a Student, Always a Tiger: Andraé Holliday Jr.’s LSU Journey

For Andraé Holliday Jr., education has never been about reaching a finish line. Since first beginning his academic journey at LSU in 2012, Holliday has earned five degrees and three certificates, including a doctorate in leadership and human resource development, while also serving as an adjunct instructor in LSU’s School of Leadership & Human Resource Development. His journey reflects a lasting commitment to learning, professional growth and the LSU community. 

When did you first begin your journey as an LSU student? What was your first major, and what led you to choose LSU? 
I first began my journey at LSU in May 2012, and I originally majored in nutrition. Like a lot of students, it took some trial and error for me to figure out what I was truly passionate about, and I eventually realized that nutrition was not the path for me.

LSU itself was never really a question. I wanted to go to LSU for as long as I can remember. My mom attended LSU and graduated in nursing, so LSU was always present in our household. I remember wearing LSU gear as early as elementary school. Growing up with that connection, I knew that one day I wanted to be a student here myself. I did not necessarily know what my journey at LSU would look like when I started in 2012, but I knew I wanted to be here, and I was determined to make that happen. 

You’ve earned an impressive number of degrees over the years. Can you walk us through the degrees and programs you’ve completed, and how many of them are from LSU? 
My educational journey has definitely taken a few turns. I earned my Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from LSU in 2017, with concentrations in psychology, business and leadership. I then earned a Master of Science in leadership and human resource development in 2018, followed by a doctorate in leadership and human resource development in 2025. Most recently, I completed my Master of Business Administration in August 2026. 
 
Along the way, I also pursued several certificates and specializations through LSU. I completed the Future Faculty Graduate Certificate in 2024, a cybersecurity certificate in 2025 and, most recently, an emerging technology certificate in August 2026.

I also earned an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force in 2019. Even that degree has an LSU connection, as I completed about half of the coursework toward the associate degree through LSU. 

Altogether, I have five degrees, with four awarded by LSU, as well as three additional certifications and specializations from LSU. That gives me seven total credentials from LSU. Even the one degree that was not awarded by LSU was supported significantly by coursework I completed here. 

When I first arrived at LSU as a nutrition major in 2012, I never imagined my educational journey would grow into all of this. Each credential represents a different point in my life where I saw an opportunity to learn something new, expand what I could do or challenge myself in another area. 

What initially motivated you to pursue another degree after completing your first program? Was there a particular moment or goal that kept you coming back to school? 
After completing my bachelor's degree, I became increasingly interested in pursuing the leadership route, largely because of my experiences in the Air Force. I had leaders around me who saw leadership potential in me and encouraged me to continue pursuing opportunities where I could lead and develop others. 
 
As I researched LSU's master's program in leadership & human resource development, I became inspired by the opportunity to actually study leadership. I wanted to understand the strategies and theories behind effective leadership and learn how they could be applied within organizations to improve the way people work, develop and ultimately make organizations more effective. 
 
I always say that mentorship is my passion and people are my purpose. That became a major reason for continuing my education. I did not just want to hold leadership positions. I wanted to understand how to be a better leader for the people I was responsible for and how to help others develop into leaders themselves. Pursuing my master's degree gave me an opportunity to begin building that foundation. 

What has kept you connected to LSU throughout your educational journey? What does LSU mean to you personally? 
The people I have met at LSU are really what have made this journey worthwhile. During my master's program, I met Kadaja Cryer, Kelli Bates and Corai Jackson, who became lifelong friends. We continued into the doctorate program together, pushed each other throughout that journey, and ultimately had the opportunity to graduate with our doctoral degrees together from the same program. Having people around you who understand the challenges, celebrate the successes, and continue to push you forward makes a journey like this much more meaningful. 
 
The faculty also played a major role in keeping me connected to LSU. I have been fortunate to learn from faculty who are extremely knowledgeable but, just as importantly, genuinely care about their students. Being around people like that made me want to continue learning, pursue new opportunities and become more involved. 
 
Over time, academia really became second nature to me. LSU went from being the university I always dreamed of attending to a place where I found lifelong friendships, mentors, opportunities, and eventually, a career. What has kept me here is the people and the sense that there is always another opportunity to learn, contribute and give something back to the community that has given so much to me. 

After earning one degree, what made you decide, “I’m not done yet”? What has driven your continued pursuit of higher education? What is next for you? 
My continued journey in leadership & human resource development was heavily influenced by the people I mentioned before. Having friends who were progressing alongside me and faculty who continued to challenge and support me made pursuing the doctorate feel like a natural progression. By that point, learning and academia had become a significant part of who I was. 
 
As I continued to grow professionally, though, my interests also began to expand. Technology is advancing so quickly that I did not want to simply keep up with the times. I wanted to understand how to implement new technologies, innovate with them and use them to make the organizations and initiatives I am involved with more efficient. That influenced my decision to pursue additional education in business, cybersecurity and emerging technology. 
 
The Air Force also influenced that decision. Leadership today requires you to understand more than just people. You have to understand the different systems, tools and resources available to you and how they can improve the way your unit or organization operates. For me, continuing my education has been about becoming a more knowledgeable, innovative and efficient leader across the different spaces I serve. 
 
Also, my father is one of the main reasons for my pursuit of continuing education. He has just as many degrees as me, and I am just playing catch up. He is the original Dr. Andrae Holliday. 
 
As far as what is next, I think my focus is shifting from simply earning credentials to applying everything I have learned. I want to continue teaching, researching, mentoring, leading and finding ways to bring leadership, business and technology together in ways that can make a meaningful difference for people and organizations. 

Were there particular professors, mentors or experiences at LSU that had a lasting impact on you or influenced the direction of your education and career? 
There have been several people at LSU who have had a lasting impact on me, and each of them came into my life at a different point in my journey. 
 
Kristie Galy was one of the first people who really introduced me to the leadership program when I was trying to figure out my direction as an undergraduate. She helped me see that leadership could actually become an academic and professional path for me, and she is ultimately the reason I changed my major and began moving in that direction. 
 
Dr. Douglas Waddell became a major mentor for me as I progressed through my undergraduate years. I met him in 2016, and he encouraged me to pursue my master's degree. Since then, his mentorship has extended far beyond academics. He has been heavily involved in my progression as a scholar, professional and person. 
Within my department, Dr. Tracey Rizzuto took a chance on me as a student and gave me the freedom to explore my interests while still pushing me to grow. Dr. Petra Robinson challenged me to become a stronger speaker and scholar. She encouraged me to present at conferences, become more comfortable communicating my ideas and pursue opportunities to publish my work. 
 
Then there is Dr. Eddie Gibbons. I probably spent more time in his office than anywhere else, especially when I began diving deeper into veteran research. I would bring ideas to him, and he helped me think through how to turn those ideas into something tangible. His insight and the way his mind works challenged me to think differently about research and what I could contribute to the field. 
 
When I look at my journey, I can see pieces of each of these individuals in the scholar, educator, researcher and mentor I have become. They did more than help me earn degrees. They helped me discover what I was capable of doing with them. 

You’ve also served as an adjunct instructor in the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development. What was it like to go from being an LSU student to teaching LSU students? 
The transition from student to instructor was actually pretty smooth for me because I had the opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant before stepping into the role of an instructor. That experience allowed me to gradually learn what it meant to be on the other side of the classroom and take on more responsibility as an educator. 
 
What has made the transition especially meaningful is that I still have the support of many of the same people who helped me when I was a student. The individuals I mentioned before did not stop being mentors once I earned my degrees. I can still go to them for advice, ask questions and continue learning from them as I develop as a professor. 
 
There is something special about now teaching within the same program that helped shape so much of who I am. I have experienced it as a student, and now I have the opportunity to contribute to someone else's experience as an instructor. My hope is that one day a student can look back on having me as a professor and say that I had the same type of impact on their journey that my professors and mentors had on mine. 

How did your experiences as a student influence the way you approached teaching and interacting with students as an adjunct instructor? 
Being a student and a relatively recent graduate has definitely influenced the way I approach teaching. I think it gives me a deeper understanding of both the current and potential struggles students may experience because I am not that far removed from being in their position. I understand some of the pressures they face, how they communicate and even some of the newer tricks students may try when it comes to navigating assignments and expectations. 
 
In some ways, that can be a double-edged sword. Students may be more comfortable communicating with me or asking for help because they feel that I understand where they are coming from. I value that because I want my students to know that I am willing to work with them when they are genuinely trying to succeed. At the same time, I have learned that being understanding does not mean removing accountability. There have been moments when that familiarity or relatability can become a hindrance if a student begins to expect flexibility without responsibility. 
 
That experience has helped me find a balance in my teaching. I can empathize with what students are going through while still holding them to a standard that prepares them for what comes next. I think being close enough to remember the student experience, while now having the perspective of an instructor, helps me better understand both sides of that relationship. 

What has pursuing so many degrees taught you about yourself, lifelong learning and the value of education? 
Pursuing so many different areas of education has taught me that learning really never stops. Every year, there is going to be a new innovation, a new way of thinking or a new way to accomplish something. Especially in this new age of technology, things are changing so quickly that we have to continue pursuing knowledge if we want to keep up with those changes. 
 
It has also taught me the value of having a broad range of knowledge. There are so many different ways to approach and execute a task, and sometimes the best solution comes from being able to pull from experiences and knowledge that may not seem directly connected at first. That is one of the reasons I value having an educational background that crosses several different areas. 
 
At the same time, education has made me appreciate experience even more. I do not believe knowledge is valuable simply because you earned a degree or completed a program. There is value in being able to take what you have learned, combine it with your experiences and actually apply it to what you are doing. 
 
For me, lifelong learning does not necessarily mean continuously pursuing another degree. It means understanding that there will always be more to learn. The moment you believe you know everything is probably the moment the world starts passing you by. 

Looking back at where you started as an LSU student, what does it mean to you to see how far your journey has taken you—and what do you hope your story inspires others to do? 
Looking back, sometimes it still does not feel real that I have been able to accomplish everything that I have. I have never considered myself the smartest person in the room or the most talented person in every space I enter. What I have always had, though, is an amazing support system and people who believed in me, challenged me and helped me continue moving forward. 
 
When I think about the student who started at LSU in 2012 as a nutrition major, there was no way I could have predicted where that journey would eventually take me. I changed directions, discovered new interests, met people who changed my life and continued taking advantage of opportunities that I never could have planned for when I first arrived. 
 
More than anything, I hope my story shows people that you can be authentically yourself and still achieve at a high level. You do not have to become someone else to belong in certain rooms or reach certain heights. You also do not have to have your entire life figured out when you begin. Sometimes your path changes as you learn more about yourself and what you are capable of. 
 
If someone can look at my journey and see that it is possible to keep growing, change directions, surround yourself with good people and still remain true to who you are, then that means more to me than any individual degree or credential. 

What is the value of an LSU degree to you? 
To me, the value of an LSU degree goes beyond the credential itself. LSU is the flagship university of Louisiana, and it is an institution that continues to grow its prominence and impact nationally and internationally. There is a sense of pride that comes with knowing that my education is connected to that. 
 
For me personally, though, the value means even more because I want to continue my career at LSU. I came here as a student, grew here academically and professionally, and now I have the opportunity to teach and contribute to the same university that has given me so much. I want to continue being part of LSU's growth and help contribute to where the university is going next. 
 
I also believe having an LSU degree comes with a responsibility. When I enter different professional, academic or leadership spaces, I am representing not only myself but also the institution that helped prepare me to be there. I want the work I do and the way I serve others to reflect positively on LSU. 
 
So, to me, an LSU degree represents opportunity, pride and responsibility. It connects where I started, where I am today and where I hope to continue building my future.