
Congratulations to IFA Honoree Joseph Holland ’78
Please join us in congratulating Joseph Holland ’78 for becoming the 2017 Ivy Football Association (IFA) Honoree for Cornell.
Take a moment to read the short bio below and watch the video highlighting Joe’s accomplishments over the years.
Joe is a 1978 graduate of Cornell where he earned a B.A. in 1978 and an M.A. in 1979 from the College of Arts and Science. He was an All-American and an Academic All-American football player while competing for the Big Red. Holland has served as a member of the University’s Board of Trustee’s since 1988. He is a member of the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Sports & Information Director’s Academic All-American Hall of Fame. Joe also holds a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School (1982). Brud Holland, one of Cornell’s most illustrious graduates and football stars was Joe’s father.
Since leaving Ithaca in 1979 Joe has had a varied and successful career as a NYC/Harlem based writer, attorney, entrepreneur, civic leader, ordained minister and public speaker with three decades of experience building institutions that serve the community and its citizens. For his efforts Holland has received awards and honors for both his business and social service accomplishments. For example, in 1993 President Bill Clinton recognized him at a White House Ceremony for his community-building initiatives and in 1991 he was honored with President George Bush’s Volunteer Action Award and with the New York City Entrepreneur of the Year Award.