Neal Holland
Professor of Visual Arts; Department Chair, Visual Arts
M.F.A., National University
M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A., Ouachita Baptist University
Mr. S. Neal Holland began his career at John Brown University in 1998 as the first full-time instructor in Digital Media Art.
Mr. Holland received his B.A. in Telecommunication from Ouachita Baptist University. Soon after graduating, he moved to the Dallas metro area to pursue educational opportunities from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While studying there, he earned an M.A. in Communication and taught courses in video and photography as the SWBTS Presidential Teaching Fellow recipient. Soon after earning his masters degree, Mr. Holland returned to Southwestern to teach as an adjunct instructor until leaving the Dallas area.
An amazing opportunity helped to propel Mr. Holland into digital media in 1993. He was offered a job by a ground level digital boutique (RISE International) servicing the Dallas area. This small boutique grew from a start-up business to a major digital media provider for national and international fortune 500 clients like Coca-Cola, Reebok, Nike, and General Motors.
Mr. Holland left RISE International for JBU in 1998 - That first year welcomed him with six returning students (returning from the inaugural year of the degree program) and six new freshmen. The program grew from there to be the largest major in the university, before eventually dividing resources and combining with what is now the Art Department. Mr. Holland has served department head for both the communication and art departments. He completed an M. F. A. in digital cinema with National University in 2006.
Mr. Holland has been a champion of non-traditional programs and study-abroad partnerships, and he continues to head a series of programs to promote off-campus study. His work with the start-up Fields and Frames promotes that desire and helps photography students get international experience while encouraging the responsibility for Christians to engage with social justice issues.
The Holland’s (Neal and Shannon) have one son, Taylor. Mr. Holland spends his free-time fly fishing, firing handguns, printing in the darkroom or print lab, and attempting to capture illusive images that might change the world.
