Learning Foundation- Cultural Competence
Dr. Ryan C. Holmes is Assistant Vice President for Student Support (AVPSS) at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Dr. Holmes completed a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland-College Park in 2004, was awarded a second Master's degree (MA) in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies from La Salle University in 2008, and completed his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration (Ed.D.) at UTEP in 2014. In his role as AVPSS, Dr. Holmes has supervisory oversight of the Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS), the Military Student Success Center (MSSC), the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR), and the University Counseling Center (UCC). Dr. Holmes also functions as Chair of the Behavioral Assessment Team (BAT) and is a Deputy Title IX Coordinator responsible for supervision of investigations regarding student concerns. Additional responsibilities of Dr. Holmes include divisional leadership for emergency response and student safety, as well as being the university lead for bystander intervention efforts regarding campus violence to include sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.
He has given various talks and presentations dealing with social justice, bias (as it relates to race, gender, and other unchangeable traits), and entitlement, and also contributed to Reframing Campus Conflict: Student Conduct Practice Through a Social Justice Lens (Stylus, 2009), More Stories of Inspiration: 51 Uplifting Tales of Courage, Humor, Healing, and Learning in Student Affairs (NASPA, 2009), and The State of Student Conduct: Current Forces & Future Challenges: Revisited (ASCA, 2013). Additionally, from 2010 to 2013, Dr. Holmes was the writer and principal investigator for the Health and Wellness Initiative for Women Attending Minority Institutions grant awarded to UTEP by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health ($300,000). Dr. Holmes served on the American College Personnel Association’s (ACPA) Ethics Consortium Committee from 2013-2015 and also served as a Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Expert Review Panelist to review student conduct program standards in 2014 on behalf of the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). Dr. Holmes is also a past president of ASCA (2012-2013).
Featured Speaker
Dr. Julie Lash
Theoretical Orientation:
In my work with clients, I draw from a wide variety of theoretical views, but first and foremost, from a person centered perspective. I believe it is essential for an individual to feel safe, respected, and valued in order for counseling to have an impact. This means I need to listen and consistently seek to understand the worldview and experiences of each person I work with in counseling. From this foundation, we can collaborate to identify desired changes and ways those changes can be realized.
In light of the above, I believe we begin to learn how to relate to others, ourselves, and the world from the moment of our birth. I rely on a combination of psychodynamic, cognitive, feminist, and developmental theories to help me understand the path of the individual client. I also incorporate the social, cultural, and personal values of the client into our work, so that any changes the individual chooses to make are consistent with their identity. I view counseling as a collaborative relationship that can empower individuals to cope with the stressors of life.
Professional Interests:
My counseling interests include working with individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, and post-trauma symptoms. I particularly enjoy being at IUPUI due to the opportunity to work with such a diverse student population and engage cross-culturally. As a former Training Director, I continue to enjoy supervising counselors in training and giving back to the profession. More recently, I have become involved in working at the campus-wide level to help faculty, staff, and students to identify individuals in distress and provide appropriate intervention and referrals.