Rutgers–Camden Professor Oscar Holmes IV Inducted into Prestigious MLK Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College

Oscar Holmes IV, professor of management at Rutgers School of Business–Camden and director of the Rutgers University Student Executive (RUSE) program, has been inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College. This distinguished honor recognizes national and international leaders for their professional achievements, moral leadership, and deep commitment to community. 

Established within the Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers and Laity at Morehouse College, the collegium celebrates individuals whose work reflects the values of service, justice, and ethical leadership embodied by Dr. King. 

The collegium draws inductees from many disciplines, such as higher education leadership, business, social sciences, theology, social justice, ethics, and the humanities, and honors scholars whose work advances research, peace, justice, and has a societal impact.

At a ceremony held on April 6, Holmes was among 59 individuals inducted into the Collegium of Scholars, which included New York Times bestselling author and political commentator Keith Boykin and former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch. After an inspiring keynote address given by United States Senator Raphael Warnock, the official portraits of twenty-one members of the King family, all of whom were on hand for the event, were unveiled.

“For years, the lives and achievements of past MLK Collegium of Scholars have inspired and motivated me,” Holmes said. “To know that my research, teaching, and service have had such a broad and notable impact to warrant this recognition makes me profoundly honored and grateful to be inducted this year into the MLK Collegium of Scholars. I credit my family, mentors, coauthors, and close friends for their unwavering support, which greatly helps me do the work I do.”

Oscar’s induction into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars is a powerful recognition of the impact of his scholarship, teaching, and service. His work exemplifies the values of leadership, equity, and community engagement that define Rutgers–Camden, and we are proud to see him honored on a national stage.

Antonio D. Tillis

Chancellor, Rutgers University–Camden

The College of Ministers and Laity brings together some of the brightest minds across disciplines for dialogue, learning, and growth, emphasizing the intersection of servanthood, scholarship, and leadership as essential components of ministry, whether expressed through formal religion or other professional and civic pursuits. 

Holmes has been a member of the faculty at Rutgers–Camden since 2013.  His research focuses on organizational behavior, leadership, and workplace diversity, with particular emphasis on understanding how leaders can maximize productivity and well-being by fostering inclusive environments. He examines issues related to identity, inclusion, discrimination, and career advancement, with the goal of informing organizational practices that improve equity, employee well-being, and leadership effectiveness.

Holmes is also the director of the Rutgers University Student Executive (RUSE) program, an experiential, co-curricular entrepreneurship pitch competition he founded in 2017 to introduce high school and undergraduate students to business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. He teaches courses in management, leadership, and organizational behavior, and is widely recognized for his commitment to mentoring students and fostering experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom concepts to real-world practice.

Holmes has received numerous honors for his teaching, scholarship, and leadership. In 2024, he was named a New Jersey Bright Ideas Award recipient for an influential Harvard Business Review publication recognized among the journal’s top articles of the year. It was his third time receiving that award, having been recognized in 2018 and 2020 as well. He has also been recognized as a “Top 40 Under 40” honoree by the Philadelphia Business Journal (2020). In addition, he has been recognized by Poets & Quants, a leading publication on business education and MBA programs, as one of the world’s “Best 40 Under 40 Business School Professors.”

Beyond his academic work, Holmes is engaged in extensive consulting, service, and public scholarship, including initiatives that translate research into practice for organizations and communities. His work reflects a sustained commitment to leadership, education, and impact, a commitment recognized through his recent induction into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College.