By Nathaniel Luce
The Principal Strategist – Alignment, Innovation, and Growth at the St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN) has been awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Vanderbilt Business’ Executive MBA program.
Jessica Holmes was selected by the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management to receive the two-year scholarship, awarded each academic year and valued at over $100,000.
“Vanderbilt’s reputation for excellence extends far beyond Nashville — but it was the warmth and team atmosphere that also won me over,” said Holmes. “I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to join this community of high caliber performers.”
Jessica Holmes
Holmes’ role at IHN is to design and grow innovative care delivery approaches that integrate the mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing of patients alongside their physical health. The IHN’s network is comprised of three major hospital systems, five community health centers, two medical schools, and two public health departments that collectively serve 90% of the healthcare safety network market (Medicaid and uninsured populations) in the greater St. Louis region.
Reflecting on Holmes’ selection for the scholarship, Executive Director Juli Bennett said, “We are delighted to have Jess become part of the Vanderbilt EMBA class of 2022. Her focus on serving underrepresented at-risk communities is well-aligned with the purpose of the full tuition nonprofit scholarship. Our hope is that the Executive MBA education and experience will accelerate and broaden the impact of the innovative work Jess is already doing.”
“My goal is to leverage my EMBA training to deepen the intersection between the nonprofit sector and the business of healthcare,” said Holmes.
Before pivoting towards healthcare, Holmes’ career started on the frontlines as a Social Worker, coaching families coping with serious mental illness and complex trauma. She received her Masters in Social Work in 2014 from Washington University in St. Louis. Holmes co-chairs the HEAL Partnership and the Missouri CHW Sustainability Collaborative, which both focus on scaling and sustaining the Community Health Worker workforce in St. Louis and across Missouri. She also serves as a member of the Visionary Leadership Team for United Way of Greater St. Louis’ Community Information Exchange to create an integrated data sharing platform to connect information between health and social service organizations.
“Nonprofit leadership is not just about good intentions and charity — it should also be savvy, strategic, and incentivizing because that is what families deserve,” said Holmes.
Vanderbilt Business launched the sponsorship program in 2006 to give career assistance to one deserving nonprofit executive each year. Applications are open to executives and senior staff members of any 501(c)(3) organization who have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving in the nonprofit sector. The scholarship is offered in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management. Holmes was chosen from a pool of admitted applicants coming into the highly ranked Executive MBA program.
To learn more about Vanderbilt’s Executive MBA program, click here.
To learn more about available scholarship opportunities for Executive MBA students, click here.
