Elwood F. "Ed" Holton, III, EdD, MBA
Emeritus Faculty
School of Leadership & Human Resource Development
Contact
Education
Doctorate of Education
Adult and Continuing Education/Human Resource Development
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, V; 1991
Master of Business Administration
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, VA; 1980
Bachelor of Science
Business Finance and Management
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Blacksburg, VA; 1978
Biography
Dr. Holton devoted 23 years of exceptional service to Louisiana State University, where he was Director of the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the Jones S. Davis Professor of Human Resource Development, Interim Associate Dean for Distance Learning & Leadership, and Interim Director of the School of Information Studies. During that time, he worked to establish a one-of-a-kind program for Louisiana, LSU’s Leadership Development Institute.
In December 2023, Dr. Holton returned to LSU as the Senior Director of LDI and Special Assistant to the Dean of College of Human Sciences & Education for Leadership Programs and served as advisor to the Dean of College of Human Sciences & Education on leadership initiatives, military and veteran initiatives and leadership/workforce development initiatives. Dr. Holton was later appointed as Director of the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development on June 1, 2024.
On July 31, 2025, Dr. Holton concluded his second distinguished tenure at Louisiana State University with his retirement.
Dr. Holton holds a distinguished record of accomplishments in adult and continuing education and human resource development. His scholarly work about adult and workplace learning includes over 200 publications in academic journals and professional articles and is recognized by adult and continuing education scholars and practitioners around the world. Dr. Holton has advanced the theory and practice of both adult education and human resource development through his co-authored books The Adult Learner – 10th Edition and Foundations of Human Resource Development. He is the founding editor of Human Resource Development Review and a past president of the Academy of Human Resource Development.
Dr. Holton was inducted into both the Academy of Human Resource Development Hall of Fame and the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.