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Author Profile
Holly Tapper | Dean, School of Advancing Studies, Saint Mary's University
Current Position and Past Experience
Holly Tapper is the Dean of the School of Advancing Studies at Saint Mary's University. She is a business development and higher education leader who combines strategic vision with operational expertise to support innovative growth. Her career spans higher education, business strategy, human resources, marketing, and legal practice, including leadership roles in academic, corporate, and legal settings.
In her current role as Dean of the School of Advancing Studies at Saint Mary's University, Tapper provides academic and administrative leadership for graduate and professional education. She also serves as an independent consultant, advising organizations on educational services, legal matters, artificial intelligence, business strategy, human resources, and training.
Previously, Tapper served as Associate Vice President of Business Development and as Associate Dean and Professor of Business and Technology at Concordia University–St. Paul. She also held leadership positions as Vice President of Graduate and Online Solutions at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, Director of Online Operations and Director and Professor of the MBA and MA in Human Resource Management programs at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and Dean of Graduate Programs and Chair of the Paralegal Program at Globe University/Minnesota School of Business.
Her legal and corporate experience includes serving as Associate Counsel in the Employment Litigation Division at Moyer and Bergman, PLC, as Corporate Legal Counsel and Director of Marketing Communications at McLeodUSA, and in teaching and research roles at the University of Iowa.
Tapper has taught extensively at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, with courses spanning business, human resources, employment law, labor relations, strategic management, ethics, marketing, and capstone studies. Her teaching experience includes Saint Mary's University, Concordia University–St. Paul, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Excelsior College, Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, Kirkwood Community College, and the University of Iowa.
Education, Honors, and Achievements
Tapper earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies with highest distinction, a Juris Doctor with distinction, and a Master of Business Administration in Management and Organization, all from the University of Iowa.
Throughout her career, she has combined academic leadership with professional expertise in law, business development, human resources, marketing, online education, and organizational strategy. Her experience includes developing and delivering online and campus-based graduate programs, creating courses in law and ethics, and supporting the expansion of graduate and online education. She has also been an early adopter of online learning technologies, teaching across platforms including Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, and D2L.
Holly Tapper is the Dean of the School of Advancing Studies at Saint Mary's University. She is a business development and higher education leader who combines strategic vision with operational expertise to support innovative growth. Her career spans higher education, business strategy, human resources, marketing, and legal practice, including leadership roles in academic, corporate, and legal settings.
In her current role as Dean of the School of Advancing Studies at Saint Mary's University, Tapper provides academic and administrative leadership for graduate and professional education. She also serves as an independent consultant, advising organizations on educational services, legal matters, artificial intelligence, business strategy, human resources, and training.
Previously, Tapper served as Associate Vice President of Business Development and as Associate Dean and Professor of Business and Technology at Concordia University–St. Paul. She also held leadership positions as Vice President of Graduate and Online Solutions at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, Director of Online Operations and Director and Professor of the MBA and MA in Human Resource Management programs at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and Dean of Graduate Programs and Chair of the Paralegal Program at Globe University/Minnesota School of Business.
Her legal and corporate experience includes serving as Associate Counsel in the Employment Litigation Division at Moyer and Bergman, PLC, as Corporate Legal Counsel and Director of Marketing Communications at McLeodUSA, and in teaching and research roles at the University of Iowa.
Tapper has taught extensively at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, with courses spanning business, human resources, employment law, labor relations, strategic management, ethics, marketing, and capstone studies. Her teaching experience includes Saint Mary's University, Concordia University–St. Paul, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Excelsior College, Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, Kirkwood Community College, and the University of Iowa.
Education, Honors, and Achievements
Tapper earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies with highest distinction, a Juris Doctor with distinction, and a Master of Business Administration in Management and Organization, all from the University of Iowa.
Throughout her career, she has combined academic leadership with professional expertise in law, business development, human resources, marketing, online education, and organizational strategy. Her experience includes developing and delivering online and campus-based graduate programs, creating courses in law and ethics, and supporting the expansion of graduate and online education. She has also been an early adopter of online learning technologies, teaching across platforms including Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, and D2L.
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