Holiday Hart McKiernan, J.D.
Coalition for the Common Good
Holiday Hart McKiernan, J.D., is the recently retired executive vice president, chief operating officer, and general counsel of the Lumina Foundation where she oversaw operations, legal affairs, and board governance, and served as acting CEO while President and CEO Jamie Merisotis was on sabbatical in 2019. Her work has included exploring the Bologna Process and the implications this reform effort might have for US higher education. McKiernan shaped Lumina鈥檚 approach to social-impact investing and has become a frequent speaker and thought leader in that area. She speaks frequently on governance, legal, and policy issues related to nonprofit organizations and higher education.
McKiernan began her career practicing law with a concentration on nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. Before joining Lumina in 2003, she was executive director and counsel for Alpha Chi Omega, a national sorority, and advised universities on how to reduce high-risk behavior among students. McKiernan has co-authored several journal articles, including 鈥淢aking the Implicit Explicit: Demonstrating the Value Added of Higher Education by a Qualifications Framework,鈥� in The Journal of College and University Law. She wrote 鈥淗igher Education and the American Workforce鈥� for Trusteeship, the magazine of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. In addition to serving on the Board of the Coalition for the Common Good, she serves on the boards of DePauw University, Christian Theological Seminary, and Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center. She also is on Antioch University鈥檚 Board of Governors, and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy鈥檚 Board of Visitors. McKiernan received her bachelor of arts from DePauw University and her law degree from Indiana University.